Clara Ihnen Owen

Clara Ihnen Owen died on Jan. 14, 2021 in Cherokee Village, Ark. at the age of 91 years and 4 days. She was reunited in Heaven with her husband of 72 years, James R. Owen, who died on Jan. 24, 2017. Also preceding her in death were her parents, George and Marie Ihnen, her sister, Marian Bradley, and her brothers, George and Phillip Ihnen.

Clara is survived by her daughters, Jaime Owen of Mishawaka, Ind. and Cary Jackson and her husband George of Cherokee Village. She leaves three grandchildren to cherish her memory: Erin Cox and husband Robert of St. Genevieve, Mo., Emma Jackson, and Benjamin Jackson of Cherokee Village.

She also leaves her sisters-in-law, Mary Owen of Memphis, Tenn. and Sharon Rohrig and husband Rich of Springfield, Ill., as well as many nieces and nephews.

Clara was born Jan. 10, 1930 in Golden, Ill. and grew up in Springfield, Ill. She married “her Jim” who was her high school sweetheart on Jan. 15, 1949. They moved to Memphis in 1958 and lived there for 53 years prior to moving to Cherokee Village to be closer to family.

She loved her work at the University of Memphis, where she was employed in the Marketing Department and later in the Graduate School. Her favorite activities were visiting the Memphis Zoo with her grandchildren and beachcombing in Long Boat Key, Florida. She treasured her church family of almost 40 years at Trinity Lutheran Church in Memphis.

Per the wishes of both Clara and Jim, they will be buried together at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis later this spring. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 210 Washington Ave., Memphis, TN 38103 or The Memphis Zoo, Development Office, 2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, TN 38112 or Memphiszoo.org.

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. Solomon in all in his glory was not arrayed as one of these.” ~ Matthew 6:28-29