Owen Lundquist

Owen Kenneth Lundquist, age 73, of Dallas, TX passed away December 10, 2021 at Methodist Richardson Medical Center with his two sons and daughter-in-law by his side.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton, MN with Rev. Cheryl Berg officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the church. Burial will be in Siloah Lutheran Cemetery, Parnell Township, Traverse County, Minnesota. A Celebration of Life Service was held at Restland Funeral Home Wildwood Chapel in Dallas, TX on January 14, 2022.

Owen was born to Richard Owen Lundquist and Ilene Eleanor (Weick) Lundquist on August 28, 1948 at Holy Trinity Hospital in Graceville, MN.  Owen was raised on the family farm in Parnell Township, Traverse County of Minnesota.  Owen attended grades 1 through 6 at District 7 Rural School, Parnell Township.  Owen then attended grades 7 and 8 at Graceville Public Schools, Graceville, MN.  Owen attended grades 9-12 at Wheaton High School, graduating in 1966.  Owen then attended Fergus Falls Community College, Fergus Falls, MN for two years graduating in 1968.  Owen enlisted in the United States Air Force and served a four-year term during the Vietnam War from December 1968 to August 1972.  Owen trained at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas; was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis, New Mexico; and served in Thailand from December 1971 to August 1972.  Upon his return from Thailand Owen enrolled in the Radiography Specialist Program at El Centro Community College in Dallas Texas. Upon his graduation from El Centro Community College Owen was employed at Medical City Dallas for many years furthering his training in all of the new advances in radiography.  In 1996 Owen moved to Knoxville, TN and was employed by Whirlpool in their customer service department.  When his health failed due to diabetes and chronic kidney failure Owen moved back to Wheaton, MN in 2005. Owen remained in Wheaton until 2014 when he returned to Texas to be near his two sons and their families.

Owen was baptized at Siloah Lutheran Church, Parnell Township, on September 19, 1948 by Rev. Linne Bomgren.  His Godparents were Merle and Betty Weick.  Owen was confirmed at Siloah on April 7, 1963 by Rev. Roger Anderson.  Owen was a member of Siloah Lutheran Church until May of 2011 when he joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton, MN where he remained a member until his passing.

Owen enjoyed Luther League at Siloah Lutheran Church and 4-H in Parnell Township.  Highlights of Luther League were the bake sale at the annual Pancake Supper, selling treats at the annual Mid-Summer picnic, and attending youth conference events and Bible camp.  At Wheaton High School Owen participated in band playing the tuba, chorus, Madrigals, German Club, Library Club, Future Teachers of America, and was on the Mallard Staff.  Owen participated in several class plays and held class offices.  Owen enjoyed being a teacher’s assistant at Pearson Elementary during his Jr and Sr years of High School. He enjoyed helping with the fall field work on the farm.  Owen enjoyed time spent with his many cousins and friends while growing up on the farm. Owen learned to knit from Grandma Edith Lundquist and was self-taught in crochet later in life.  Owen enjoyed the hundreds of Tootsie Rolls that Grandpa Simon Lundquist provided on his many trips out to the farm.  Owen also enjoyed many travels with Simon and Edith, first traveling with them with cousin Carolyn (Lundquist) Allen and later being their chauffeur when they could no longer drive long trips alone.  He also enjoyed many family gatherings with Grandpa George and Clara Weick and the Weick families, especially the very special Christmas gatherings.  While stationed at Cannon Air Force Base Owen enjoyed being flagman and volunteering at Midway Speedway near Portales, NM.

Owen was united in marriage to Diane Susan Oberst on February 24, 1973 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Dallas, TX.  To this union two sons were born, Dieter Richard Stanley on January 18, 1975, and Eric Owen on February 19, 1980.

After Owen returned to Wheaton in 2005 he enjoyed being actively involved in the Wheaton Senior Center, the Wheaton Lions Club, the VFW, and the American Legion Post #80.  Owen was a Paid Up For Life Member of the American Legion Post #80 in Wheaton, MN, and served as Vice Commander for one year and Commander for three years. He greatly enjoyed being reunited with many friends and family members.  Owen was faithful to help his parents, especially his mother during her cancer journey by taking her to her many appointments and treatments.  Owen enjoyed cooking, baking, and looking for new recipes, especially desserts.  He enjoyed living out at the farm for a short time until the Minnesota winters and the stair steps made it too difficult for him to stay there.  He enjoyed mowing the lawn at the farm as long as his health allowed him to do so.  Owen managed the apartment building where he resided when he moved into Wheaton.  He tried to stay as active as he could despite his poor health condition.  Owen enjoyed crocheting.  He made many afghans for friends and family.  He made many prayer shawls for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Caring Ministries while he lived in Wheaton and after he moved to Texas.  He also made many infant caps which were donated to Parkland Hospital in Dallas as well as adult stocking caps and scarves that were donated to homeless shelters, the VA, and other charities. Most valued upon his return to Texas was being close to his two sons and their families again. He cherished every memory made with them spending time together. Owen enjoyed the company of neighbors at the assisted living facilities he resided in when he moved to Texas.  He enjoyed their excursions to restaurants and tours as well as playing cards on a regular basis.  He loved to watch TV, especially NASCAR & football.  Owen’s ability to enjoy these things was made very difficult and eventually impossible with the onset and rapid escalation of Ataxia which he was afflicted with.  Owen moved to a long-term care facility in Dallas in February of 2021 due to his declining health which was a result of the Ataxia.  He resided there until his passing.  Owen lived for his family.  He loved them all so very much and was so proud of them.  He so loved his grandchildren and great-grandson.  He would just beam with pride when speaking of them.

Owen is survived by his two sons, Dieter (Amanda) Lundquist of Richardson, TX, and Eric Lundquist of Plano, TX; grandchildren Miranda Farrish, The Colony, TX; Carly Farrish, Richardson, TX; Jack Farrish, Plant City, FL; Natalie, Cash, and Kaiden Lundquist, Plano, TX; step-grandson Ashton Miller of Forney, TX; and great-grandson Grey Crenshaw, Richardson, TX., very special aunt, Lucille Lundquist, Gallatin, TN; sister Julieann (Gene) Froemke, Wheaton, MN, nephews Jonathan (Summer) Froemke, International Falls, MN; Dominic (Amanda) Froemke, Glyndon, MN; niece Trista Whaley of Wheaton, MN, four great-nieces and four great-nephews, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Owen was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Ilene Lundquist; brother, Bruce Lundquist; nephew and Godson, Jeremiah Froemke, very special uncle, Robert Lundquist, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

God Bless the memory of Owen Kenneth Lundquist.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to one of the following organizations:

American Diabetes Association

diabetes.org

PO Box 7023

Merrifield, VA 22116-7023

National Ataxia Foundation

ataxia.org

PO Box 27986

Golden Valley, MN 55427

Graceland Cemetery Association

White Rock, South Dakota

(Burial site of Ellen Johnson Weick, Owen's grandmother, and many other relatives)

PO Box 44

Wheaton, MN 56296-0044

Wheaton Senior Center

1007 Broadway

Wheaton, MN 56296