Owen Doty Wenger, age 94 of Brooklyn, died Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at the Grinnell Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Funeral Services: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, March 14, 2009, Grace United Methodist Church, Brooklyn with Rev. John Dodds officiating. Burial will be in the Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery with military honors. Friends may call from 4 to 7 P.M. Friday, March 13, 2009 at Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn. Memorials may be contributed to Grace United Methodist Church, Brooklyn.

He is survived by his sister, Laura Hall of Brooklyn, 2 daughters, Bonita Carpenter (Lyle) of Cedar Rapids and Rhonda Whitehead (Calvin) of Dexter, MO; 4 grandchildren, Michael Owen Carpenter (Melissa) of Ottumwa, Megan Haigh (John) of Fircrest, WA, Sean Whitehead (Kim) of Sikeston, MO and Scott Whitehead of Dexter, MO; 3 great-grandchildren, Madeline Whitehead, and Brynn and Tristan Haigh, along with several cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Beulah, a brother Alvin R. Wenger and a sister Ruth Criswell.

Owen Doty Wenger was born May 20, 1914 in Poweshiek County, Iowa, the second child of Jacob and Minnie Doty Wenger. He graduated from Brooklyn High School in 1934. He went to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps creating Lake Keomah near Oskaloosa and later ran a trucking business with his brother Alvin. Prior to WWII he owned and operated an automotive repair business in Webster City. Owen served in the U.S. Army during WWII in North Africa, France and Germany. In 1950, he attended Sioux City Barber College and then worked as a barber in Brooklyn until his retirement. Owen married Beulah Harness on June 4, 1950 in Brooklyn. They were married 53 years. Owen was a lifelong member of Grace United Methodist Church in Brooklyn and a 60 year member of the Brooklyn American Legion Post 294. He was an avid gardner—known for his abundant crops and his stewardship of the land. Owen was an optimistic person. He was blessed with a sharp mind until the end of his days. He was always grateful for life’s many blessings and accepting of life’s disappointments.