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Internet obituary: FRANKLIN PARK, ILL. — Ren Owen, Sloan Valve's vice president/business development, died Jan. 6. He was 60. Born Aug. 2, 1945, in Oak Park, Ill., to Ivor and Florence Owen, he attended the University of Illinois' Chicago campus on Navy Pier, studying accounting. At 19, he began working as a castings inspector at Sloan's Melrose Park, Ill., foundry. Owen worked there until he was inducted into the U.S. Army. In 1968, Owen returned to Sloan in the order department and was named manager of the department in 1976. In 1982, Owen was promoted to plumbing parts sales manager, and he moved through the organization serving in regional and national sales manager positions over the next two decades. "Ren's legacy at Sloan will last because among his many strengths was his ability as a teacher and mentor," President and CEO Chuck Allen said. "There are many people at Sloan who have a special love for Ren because of the opportunity that he gave them to develop their personal strengths and to make a meaningful contribution to the success of our company." Owen lived in St. Charles, Ill., and is survived by his wife, Maria; his son Michael (Lauren); and his daughters, Sandra and Elizabeth. Renny graduated from Longfellow. He was a sweet but very shy fellow.
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Frank Pearce
Renny Owen was a very good friend of mine. Spent many adventurous weekends running around with him and Chuck Broucek in Renny's Edsel. Remebering the ocassion when we decided to go to see Breakfast at Tiffany's in Wheaton while the rest of our group went out for the usual weekend traveling drunk. We came back to Oak Park to find they had been arrested while cutting the usual excursion short and driving down Lake Street throwing empty beer cans at the girls. Nope they got off that one cheap. Not like it would be today.
I went with Renny and his family on a vacation trip to Estes Park CO, camping. We were almost lunch for a cougear while out hiking. Watched a bear open the trunk of a rambler to get at a cake.
Then another vacation trip to the upper Adirondaks of NY, and Maine. Sitting on a rock out by the ocean side while the tide rolled in behind us. We got very wet on a cold day getting back to shore. Spent the evening with blankets by the camp fire.
Seneca - fries and a coke after dates with our high school sweet hearts. Our brothers' cars and all that went with it. Nights at Skips watching the street drags. Yes - fond memories.
I was gld to see that Renny had accomplished a VP position at Sloan valve. I remember well his beginnings with them after HS graduation and Sloan Valve moving near O'hare airport after the west side riots. I am sure now that his loyalty to them was well rewarded.
Frank Pearce