Obituary of Morgan Michael Owens, Sr.

Morgan Michael Owens Sr.  (Mike) of Newton, NJ (formerly of Massapequa, L.I) passed away July 9, 2014. Born in Corona, NY, he was the son of Joseph Owens and Anna Cassen and was raised in Rockville Centre, NY, with his brother Joseph and sisters Mary and Elizabeth. Mike was the beloved husband of the late Rosemary Murphy Owens. He is survived by his five children, Morgan Michael, Jr and his wife Gladys, Rosemary Labozza and her husband Jack, Maureen Gismervik, Paul J. Owens, MD and wife Mary, and Maria Forenza and her husband Steve.  He is also survived and cherished by 16 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and his beloved nieces Jean Abate, Patricia Owczarek, Mary Ann Eckhoff, and Ellen Moran and his nephew William Larkin. Mike enlisted in the US Navy July 24, 1943 after completing his junior year in high school and trained to become a radio operator in the South Pacific Theater, where he was awarded a number of ribbons and medals.  After his honorable discharge in 1946, he earned his GED and graduated from Melville Radio Institute in 1947. He became a licensed Radio Telegraph operator in the Merchant Marine until 1951, after which he continued as an amateur radio operator with call sign K2BKF. He worked in the construction industry in New York City selling heavy equipment for Theodore Burke and Son and then the JI Case Company, until his retirement in 1991. For the past five years, he has worked as a professional companion for his grandson through Easter Seals. Mike was a parishioner in St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church and lived independently at Bristol Glen, where he maintained a number of friendships.  He was a charter member of the “ROMEOs” (Retired Old Men Eating Out), which included his good friend and neighbor Werner Lutz.  He was a loyal, life-long Yankee fan, although he would root for the Mets as well. And like Lou Gehrig, Mike considered himself to be the luckiest man in the world. Visitation will be held Friday July 11 from 2 to 4:30 and 7 to 9:30 at Powell Funeral Home Inc, 67 Broadway (Route 110) Amityville, NY. A Funeral Mass will be Saturday, July 12 at 9:30 am at St. Martin of Tours RC Church, Amityville, NY. Interment will be at the Cemetery of the Holy Rood, Westbury, NY. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to the Karen Anne Quinlan Hospice 99 Sparta Ave, Newton N.J. 07860.