Richard "Rich" E. VanOwen

   Richard “Rich” VanOwen, 63, of Sioux City, passed away on Friday, May 18, 2018 at a local hospital.    

   A Celebration of Life service will be at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at Nelson Berger Northside Chapel, located at 822 Jennings St. in Sioux City with Pastor Catie Newman officiating. 

   Richard Edwin VanOwen, the son of Richard and Donna Faye VanOwen, was born December 20, 1954 in Norfolk, NE.  Rich grew up in Norfolk and graduated from Norfolk High School with the Class of 1973. 

   On July 6, 1973, Rich was united in marriage to Charlene Schulz in Pierce, NE and this union was blessed with three daughters.  The family made their home in several different Nebraska communities including: Norfolk, Madison, Martinsburg, Dakota City and South Sioux City.  Rich and Charlene later divorced.

   In January of 1991, Rich met his longtime companion Janie Sue Preston and he helped her raise her children.  Rich and Janie made their home in Sioux City.  Janie passed away on November 3, 2010.

   Rich was a lifelong laborer in different packing plants in the Sioux City area.  He worked many years at IBP.

   Rich enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and gardening.  He was an avid NASCAR and Nebraska Cornhusker fan.

   He is survived by three daughters: Kristine (Mitch) Van Owen Fairchild of Dallas, TX, Kyla Collison of Onawa, IA and Kim (Walter) Sulsberger of Hornick, IA; step children: Adam (Jen) Preston, Kari (Nathan Jepsen) Preston, Amie (Chase) Jacobson and Katie (Jonathon) Farley all of Sioux City; grandchildren: Blake, Brooklyn, Owen, Reese, Zach, Tyler, Alexis, Kade, Kole, Andrew, Brayton, Alexander “Chippy”, Dakoda, Haylee, Hayden, Brooke, Jake and Kaydance.

   He was preceded in death by his parents; step mom, Doris VanOwen and longtime companion, Janie Sue Preston.