David Hatfield Owens passed at age 84 on 29 September 2024 at his Ann Arbor home with his wife, Ruth, and his brother, Larry, at his side.

David was born 22 July 1940 in Evanston IL to Llewellyn Gray Owens & Ann Hatfield Owens. After traveling frequently with his Mother during WW II (1942-1945), to meet up with his Navy Father whenever possible, David grew up (1946-1957) in Glenview, IL, graduating from Glenview Jr. HS and Glenbrook HS (1957). During his adult life, he lived on the East Coast (1957-1961: Harvard, AB Physics) and the West Coast (1961- 1986: Pasadena, Santa Monica, Los Angeles), returning to the Mid-west in 1986 to live in Ann Arbor and Eagle Harbor, Michigan.

Much of David’s life course reflected his inquisitive, adventuresome, witty, smart, and multi-talented nature. At the same time, major life decisions were not taken lightly, and depression was a companion for many of his adult years. He could be a perfectionist, as was reflected in his initial work as a computer systems analyst and software designer. His attention to detail and desire to educate others about the music he loved was a keynote of his dearly loved, and decades-long, career as a musician (accordion and piano) and music director. He wanted his audiences to have fun – and he wanted to have fun doing it! His music genres were primarily Eastern European folk music and American popular music, mostly from the early 1950’s or earlier. David’s genealogy research was also extensive and thorough. For more information on David’s life - in his own words, please see: https://www.pasty.net/~dowens/DHOBio.htm

David loved to travel. In his 20’s, he visited Europe, South America (Machu Picchu), Tahiti, Fiji, Bora Bora, Galapagos, and Central America as well as the U.S. Southwest and West. After meeting Ruth, he took both of them back to points in the U.S. Southwest and West (e.g., California’s Anza Borrego Desert, e.g., Yaquitepec ruins on Ghost Mountain and Havasu Falls near Grand Canyon) as well as Machu Picchu. Together they also visited Antarctica, Norway, Wales and Germany for genealogy research, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. In Alaska they hiked the Chilkoot Pass trail of Yukon gold rush fame and canoed on the Kobuk River within the Gates of the Arctic National Park. There were many trips to Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula and a final travel adventure together to Yellowstone in 2022.

Over the course of their years together, David and Ruth welcomed a number of special rescue cats into their lives. This included David’s beloved Kukla whom he taught to roll over and to shake paw-to-hand. All (except one) have been “K” cats, mostly reflecting David’s interest in music, especially Eastern European folk music: Mezinke, Carioca (pronounced “karr”), Katanka, Kit Carson, Kukla, Kitka and Ketsl.

Early in David and Ruth’s exploration of Michigan, they happened upon Eagle Harbor in Michigan’s Keweenaw (Upper Peninsula), were entranced by The Big Lake (Superior) and the small village, and started to spend more and more time there. In 2002-2005, David was much involved in the design of an unusual stone cottage on Goodell Rd., Eagle Harbor MI. Design goals included making the cottage as green as possible, using local materials when possible (including local rocks for the exterior – many hand-picked by David), NO drywall, and ultimately with solar panels. For over 20 years, David and Ruth (and their various cats) spent much of each year at their special place - kayaking, hiking and enjoying the BIG waves and sunsets of Lake Superior. Unfortunately, David’s early diagnosis of prostate cancer and a later series of strokes eventually curtailed the more adventurous part of their time in the Keweenaw but it continued to be their “happy place” and one of solace. David didn’t make it back physically in 2024 but certainly did in spirit. His final resting place will be in Eagle Harbor’s blueberry bush and pine tree populated cemetery.

Surviving relatives include David’s wife, Ruth Ann Mohr, as well as his brother, Lawrence Taft Owens (wife, Akiko Hayashi and daughter, Ashley Hiromi) and his sister, Martha Gray Wiegers (husband, Robert and sons, Carey Owens and Trevor Wiegers) as well as special cousins, Hayley Boyse, Michael West, Mimsy Strohmeyer, and Richard Astrom plus related niece, nephews and other cousins. Also surviving are sisters- and brothers-in-law, Ruby and Bill Dow and Rose and John Rock and related niece and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Emily Taft Owens, and his parents.

A Celebration of David H. Owens’ Life will be held in Ann Arbor, MI on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor (UUAA) from 2-5 pm. UUAA is located at 4001 Ann Arbor – Saline Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. The service will start at 2 pm followed by live music (for dancing as well as listening) and light refreshments.

A second Celebration of David’s Life will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025. at the Eagle Harbor Township Community Building, 8276 MI Hwy-26, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950 from 2-5 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in David’s honor to the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor (https://www.cancersupportannarbor.org/donate/#donate

); Friends of the University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society (https://www.fumgass.org/); or Keweenaw Natural Areas (https://www.keweenawnaturalareas.org/KNA/Home.html)