John William Owens

John William Owens died April 14, 2022, peacefully in hospice surrounded by family and friends.

John was born in Santa Barbara, California, where his parents, John Joseph Owens and Martha Morris Essig, had moved from the East Coast. They raised John in Oxnard, along with his three brothers. In 1966, he graduated from Oxnard High School.

John played football throughout high school and was All League in his senior year, when his team went to the quarterfinals in the state playoffs, which was a first for the high school.

John attended Ventura College and then enlisted in the Army. For two years he was stationed in Southeastern United States and one year in Germany. His jobs were helicopter maintenance and helicopter maintenance instruction.

While still in the Army in Germany, John married his high school sweetheart, Christine Pool, and they traveled all over Europe. John had renovated a VW bus into a camper van complete with all of the amenities perfect for touring.

In 1976, John and Christine moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, and bought a log cabin on seven acres on Pack River Road. It was near a wonderful river four miles off a highway on a gravel road.

By 1982, John remarried Robyn Blee and moved into Sandpoint. He had two sons, John Joseph and Samuel David. The family moved to a new home on five acres on the outskirts of Sandpoint. To John, family was most important.

John’s work in Sandpoint progressed from a lumber mill worker, self-employed logger, highway repair contractor, landscape contractor and also was the Schweitzer Ski Resort heavy equipment contractor.

John was witty, intelligent, and always thoughtful of others. John was always a joy to be with. John’s absence will be deeply felt by his brothers, Joseph, Robert and David; his sons; his grandson, Grady; his extended family; and his many friends.

The family gives heartfelt thanks to those who helped John in his final days. The family is planning a celebration of life in Sandpoint.