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An Iowa family has caused a serious controversy after hiding a rude phrase on their late father’s gravestone – sparking outrage among cemetery staff who insist the cheeky message is offensive and has no place ‘where loved ones are laid to rest’.
After Steven Owens passed away on September 2, 2021, at the age of 59, his family banded together to come up with an idea to forever immortalize his wicked sense of humor and straight-talking personality.
So, they came up with a way of hiding Owens’ favorite ‘term of endearment’ on his gravestone – creating a sweet tribute to the late father-of-two, which also featured the phrase, ‘F**k off’.
At first glance, the gravestone at Warren-Powers Cemetery in Polk County reads much like many of the other sentimental tributes inscribed on the monuments around it: ‘Forever in our hearts; Until we meet again; Cherished memories; Known as; Our son, brother; Father, papa, uncle; Friend & cousin.’
An Iowa family has sparked a serious controversy after hiding a crude message on their father’s gravestone – using the first letter of each line on the monument to spell out ‘f**k off’
Steven Owens passed away in September at the age of 59 and his children, daughter Lindsay and son Zach, said they wanted to do something to honor his wicked sense of humor
However, upon closer inspection, the first letter of each line on the headstone spells out Owens’ beloved insult – which his daughter Lindsay insists he only ever used as a ‘term of endearment’.
‘It was definitely his term of endearment. If he didn’t like you, he didn’t speak to you. It’s just who he was,’ she told local news outlet WIBW, with her brother Zach weighing in: ‘He was easily riled up.
‘It was always a sort of goal to get him to tell you to [f**k off].’
Despite the sweet sentiment behind the message, staff at the cemetery are up in arms over its hidden meaning, with WIBW reporting that many ‘have been against the headstone from the beginning, as profanity has no place where loved ones are laid to rest for eternity’.
‘The Camp Township Trustees [who oversee the township where the cemetery is located] were and are against this headstone being placed in our cemetery,’ a statement given to the publication reads.
‘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 Owens’ family says they have yet to be told whether or not they will have to remove the gravestone.
Zach and Lindsay (pictured at the cemetery) insist that they never meant to ‘offend anyone’ with the gravestone message – and say they only ever wanted to honor their father
‘We didn’t do it to offend anyone, make anyone mad or hurt anyone’s feelings. We did it because it was our father, and we love him, and that’s how we remember him,’ Zach said
However, Owens’ son Zach hit back at the cemetery staff who have taken offense to the message on his father’s monument, insisting that the family never meant to ‘hurt anyone’s feelings’, but only ever wanted to show ‘love’ for their dad.
‘No one’s forcing anyone to come out and look at it,’ he said. ‘That’s a choice that you make.
‘We didn’t do it to offend anyone, make anyone mad or hurt anyone’s feelings. We did it because it was our father, and we love him, and that’s how we remember him.’
Owens’ obituary describes him as ‘an avid Cubs and Steelers fan’ who ‘loved his conversation with a shot of Fireball’, adding that he was also a devoted husband and grandfather.
‘Steve enjoyed playing flag football and slow-pitch softball,’ the online obituary reads.
‘He loved coaching his children and attending their events. Steve was an avid Cubs and Steelers fan. He loved spending time with his family and his grandchildren were his pride and joy.
‘He enjoyed his time fishing and vacationing at Lake of the Ozarks, spending time on Danny and Wendy’s porch, and visiting with friends and family. He loved his conversation with a shot of Fireball.’
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