Joshua Owen

Pope County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joshua Owen passed away on April 15, 2023 while in the line of duty.

Owen was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan and also spent parts of his childhood in Alexandria, Minnesota and Albany, Minnesota. Throughout his youth, he loved to work on cars, skateboard, listen to rock music, and create art. Owen and his wife, Shannon, were online friends before meeting in person six months later. Upon meeting for the first time, the pair were inseparable.

Prior to his law enforcement career, Owen had joined an Army recruit while in high school to avoid going to class, however, he quickly found that he thoroughly enjoyed it and officially joined the US Army in 1997. He loved the camaraderie and the relationships he made with his fellow soldiers. As a silent warrior, Owen was awarded with numerous commendations. Wishing to be closer to his wife and family, he became a police officer and loved every minute of it. One week before his premature passing, Owen was awarded with a Life Saving Award for pulling his fellow officers out of a burning building. On April 15, 2023, his 44th birthday, Owen was responding to a domestic incident when he was shot four times, later succumbing to his injuries.

Shannon currently resides in Minnesota with her son. Prior to Owen’s passing, they began “Blue Karma,” a clothing company in which a percentage of their profits are donated to families of fallen first responders. In the future, she is excited to continue to watch the company she and her husband built together grow. Shannon is eternally grateful to Tunnel to Towers for allowing her and her son to remain in the home she and her husband chose for their family, and navigate their grief. Finally, she would like others to know that Owen had a big, empathetic heart and would help others unconditionally. His heart was as big as his stature. Shannon will never stop loving him.

Pope County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joshua Owen is survived by his loving wife, Shannon, his son, his parents, Kathy and Dan, his brother, Matt, and his stepmother, Debbie.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgage of the Owen family home through the Fallen First Responder Home Program.