Family defends rude message left on father's headstone: 'He'd love it'

When American man Steven Owens, 59, died in 2021, his family wanted to pay one last tribute to him.

They decided to design a unique headstone that perfectly suited his cheeky personality.

The headstone, situated in Iowa, reads: "OWENS. Forever in our hearts. Until we meet again. Cherished Memories. Known as. Our son, brother, father, papa, uncle, friend & cousin."

The message seems innocuous enough, however, upon closer inspection visitors to the cemetery can see the first letter of each sentence spells: "F--K OFF."

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Owens' family has since explained that for him, the phrase was a "term of endearment" and he would often say it as a joke.

His daughter Lindsay has told WIBW the headstone perfectly reflects her father's sense of humour.

However, the Camp Township Trustees, which oversees the township where the cemetery is located, say staff members had been against the headstone from the beginning.

"The Camp Township Trustees were and are against this headstone being placed in our cemetery," they said in a statement to WIBW.

"How would you like to have your spouse, child, mother, father, grandparent, uncle or cousin, your loved one or eventually you, have to be laid rest next to that for eternity?

"[The local community] does not want nor do they appreciate the stone being in the cemetery. This community will not stop until they have the headstone removed.

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"Those others who have a place in the cemetery have the right of decency afforded to them."

Lindsay maintains the phrase is simply a nod to her father.

"It was definitely his term of endearment," she said. "If he didn't like you, he didn't speak to you. It's just who he was."

Son Zachary adds: "No one's forcing anyone to come out and look at it. That's a choice that you make.

"We didn't do it to offend anyone, make anyone mad or hurt anyone's feelings."