Robert Owensby

1926 - 2016

Robert L. Owensby, 90, Naperville resident since 1953, passed away on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. Loving husband and best friend of Audrey (nee Cybil). Beloved father of Dale (Mike) Morrison, Diane (Kevin) Breen, Bob Owensby and Tom (Scott) Owensby. Special grandfather of Erin Breen, Casey (Deanna) Breen, Rob (Hannah) Morrison and Leslie (Greg) Barrett. Great-grandfather of Ethan and Carter Morrison, Jackson Breen and Owen Barrett. Uncle of Jay and Melinda Owensby, Mark Mitckes and Becky (Bob) Churchwell. Born January 25, 1926 in Springfield, Illinois, he was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corp, WWII, truly a representative of the greatest generation. During World War II, he participated in the landing on Iwo Jima with the 4th Marine Division, February, 1945. Wounded in action on March 8, 1945, he was awarded the Purple Heart. Later served in the Northern Marianas Islands in "mop up" operations with the 6th M.P. Bn. Returned to Iwo Jima in 1985 for the 40th anniversary of the battle, the "Reunion of Honor" for Iwo Jima survivors. Graduated from the University of Oklahoma in June, 1953, with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and was a registered architect in Illinois since 1956. Mr. Owensby was employed by Perkins & Will, other various architecture firms and retired as engineering manager for Montgomery Ward. After retirement, he continued with architecture design work in the Naperville area with George Olson. He is a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Naperville. Was appointed to the Martin Mitchell Museum Advisory Board in 1971 and contributed the drawings for the moving of Community Chapel onto the museum grounds. In retirement, he enrolled in various college courses, studying world history and Humanities at the College of DuPage, acquiring close to 100 credit hours over 15 years. He attended several classes at Benedictine University's Center for Lifelong Learning and enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan and many trips to Hawaii. He was a long time member of VFW Post 3873 and American Legion Post #43 and the Naperville Marines. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Elsie Owensby, brother John (Delores) Owensby, sisters Marge(Edward) Mitckes and Virginia (Harold) Adams. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Grace United Methodist Church, Naperville, IL or The Honor Flight, c/o American Legion, Naperville, IL. Visitation will be Monday, May 9, 3:00 until 8:00 PM at the Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 11:00 AM at Grace United Methodist Church, 300 E. Gartner Rd., Naperville, with visitation from 10:00 until 11:00 AM at the church. Interment will follow on Tuesday at 2:30 PM at Naperville Cemetery. For more information please call 630/355-0213 or visit www.friedrich-jones.com