President Gordon B. Hinckley called former U.S. Congressman and mission president Wayne Owens "a man of achievement" and a peacemaker who desired to make the world better. Speaking at Brother Owens' Dec. 23 funeral in Salt Lake City, Utah, President Hinckley expressed sympathy to the Owens family for their loss and recognized Brother Owens for his life of public and Church service. Brother Owens died Dec. 18, 2002, in Tel Aviv, Israel. At the time of his death, he was continuing his efforts to improve the world, heading up the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation. "I am grateful for this man whom I knew and appreciated and worked with in various capacities over a long period of time," President Hinckley said. The Church leader said he met Brother Owens when the future political leader was serving a full-time mission in France. President Hinckley had been dispatched to France by President David O. McKay. Brother Owens, who was serving as a counselor to the mission president at the time, spent two or three days driving President Hinckley around. "I was with him constantly," President Hinckley said. "I learned to appreciate and respect him and honor him. I have followed him ever since." Years later, President Hinckley visited Brother Owens when he was presiding over the Canada Montreal Mission. Over the years, Brother Owens, a Democrat, introduced President Hinckley to many prominent figures from his political party, such as Tom Foley and Edward and Joseph Kennedy. "[Brother Owens] was with Bill Clinton the first time that Bill Clinton came to call on us," President Hinckley said. A native of Panguitch, Utah, Brother Owens served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives where he established a reputation as a harmonizer of various groups and cultures. In 1993, Brother Owens became founder of and representative for the Institute of Middle Eastern Peace in Israel. President Hinckley praised Brother Owens for living a peace-centered life. "Any man who is engaged in the cause of peace is engaged in the cause of Christ," President Hinckley said.
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints extends its sympathy and condolences to the family of Wayne Owens. His was a life dedicated to serving others. Whether in the U.S. House of Representatives, in the practice of law, in his church or with his family, Wayne Owens gave of himself for the good of all. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Wayne Owens introduced an entire generation to politics. I remember his walk across Utah (in the 1972 congressional campaign), and for the next 30 years he has been a part of the political fabric of this state, devoting himself to bigger ideological passions. He will always be remembered as a person devoted to bigger ideologies." — Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt
Wayne Owens was a dedicated public servant, tireless advocate for Utah and a good friend. We had the opportunity to work together for several years, and I always appreciated his hard work and commitment to our state. — Sen. Orrin Hatch
Utahns have lost a great humanitarian in Wayne Owens. We need more role models like him. He was direct, but he had a lot of civility, which is lacking in politics today. He did it — and this is going to sound corny — with great integrity. He was always willing to sit down and negotiate. — Utah Democratic Party Chairwoman Meg Holbrook, who was business liaison in Owens' congressional office
He made things seem possible. He knew what he wanted and pursued it, but did it in a way without offending people and with a great sense of humor. He was easy to be around, he was fun to be around, but he had expectations and inspired people to have those same expectations. — Steve Mecham, chairman of the Utah Public Service Commission and missionary under Owens
There was never a political figure who inspired young people, and idealism within young people, more than he did. For many years he was the heart and soul of the Democratic Party. He successfully was able to prove you could be a good Mormon and a good Democrat, because he was both. — Salt Lake County Councilman Randy Horiuchi
He was to many of us who knew him a great mentor. He was a person of immense integrity and authority. He loved people, he loved the interaction of politics. He was a tremendous representative for us in Congress. He was a person who knew how to fight and knew how to compromise. — State House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake
The passing of Wayne Owens is a personal loss, a loss to Utah, a loss to America and a loss to the world. His pursuit of peace in the Middle East was thoughtful and heroic. Wayne and I disagreed on many issues, but he was always a gentleman and so very pleasant to work with. — Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah
He was one of the most capable and influential members of Congress and highly respected. He was also compassionate and caring to everyone about everyone. It's ironic he died in the Middle East where he was so desperately trying to help the peace process. I'm sorry that he died before peace was reached. He will be greatly missed. — Former Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini and Owens' press secretary in 1971
Wayne Owens was a very dear friend to the Salt Lake City and Utah Jewish communities. His loss grieves us very much. — Rabbi Frederick L. Wenger, congregation Kol Ami
He was always enthusiastic, and he could capture the imagination of others. In return, people became passionate about him as a person. — Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley, who worked on Owens' many campaigns since the early 1970s
It is an unexpected and tragic loss of an individual who dedicated his life to public service and the pursuit of peace. I personally had the opportunity to work with Wayne on several occasions in Washington, and I always found him to be fair and open-minded. — Senate President Al Mansell, R-Sandy
His environmental views were not consistent with my constituents, and I rarely agreed with him. But he was always honest and up front about where he stood, always aggressive in his pursuit of them and he truly believed in them. You had to respect him as a person. — Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, who clashed with Owens on wilderness for three decades
Listening to the speakers at the funeral of Wayne Owens, one thing becomes clear: He was an astute politician, a man who fought hard for principle, a tireless diplomat — and a good, decent man. ... Speaker after speaker, in the course of extolling Owens' political achievements, his work to establish peace between Israelis and Muslims, and his campaigning for the environment and other traditionally Democratic causes — without exception, they paid tribute to Owens' friendly, funny, loving personality. "Life is making memories with your friends and loved ones," said Lynn "Mont" Bateman, a childhood friend in Owens' hometown of Panguitch. "Wayne might have invented that. He was a master of it. . . . Wayne had no associates. He turned them all into friends." An ability to make friends came in handy for a staunch Democrat in a Republican state. President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who made an unexpected appearance at the funeral attended by civic and political leaders, told of when Owens was called to be mission president for the church in Montreal, Canada, at age 38: "When some of the Republican fathers heard he had been called, they hoped their sons wouldn't be sent there, and they expressed themselves. I told them they had nothing to worry about, that Wayne didn't work that way." President Hinckley also paid tribute to Owens' work as president of the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation, which Owens co-founded after an unsuccessful Senate bid in 1992. Owens had previously served four terms in Congress representing the 2nd Congressional District. "Any man who is engaged in the cause of peace is engaged in the cause of Christ," President Hinckley said. "That was the essence of Wayne's life." President James E. Faust of the church's First Presidency and Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve also attended the service. ...
...About 1,000 friends, associates and political rivals convened to remember Owens, who died at age 65 from a heart attack Wednesday on a Mediterranean beach in Tel Aviv, Israel. He had just completed a grueling trip escorting members of Congress on visits with Israeli and Arab leaders on behalf of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation, which he co-founded and served as president. The mourners represented an unusual cross-section of Utah, from liberals inspired by Owens' energy and commitment 30 years ago, to conservative Republicans who disagreed with his politics but respected him, to missionaries who served under him in Canada. "He left politics and his career behind to teach the gospel to the people of Quebec," said Steve Mecham, one of Owens' missionaries who later worked as a campaign aide to Republican Norm Bangerter, who defeated Owens for governor of Utah in 1984. "He had a strong desire to bring people together," said Mecham. "He expected us [the missionaries] to love one another. He was anxious that we remain close." Among those paying their respects to Owens in the chapel Monday were Jake Garn, who defeated Owens for the U.S. Senate in 1974, and Sen. Bob Bennett, who defeated Owens in 1992 and had to leave Monday's service briefly to cast his vote via long-distance telecommunication for new Senate Republican leader Bill Frist. Both said last week that while Owens was a political foe, the campaigns were civil and amicable, and they were able to maintain close friendships with Owens after each election. "He would not permit anyone on his campaign to engage in negative tactics," said longtime congressional aide Kay Christensen. She said when Tom Shimizu, Owens' opponent in the 1986 congressional race, complained that someone had stolen several of his campaign signs and dumped them in a ravine, Owens insisted that the culprits come forward. When two young overzealous campaign workers confessed to the deed, Owens lectured them about honor and integrity, then forgave them and was assured they would never do it again. ...