Owen John DeVet, 91, of Traverse City, Mich., and Charlotte Harbor, Fla., and formerly of Midland, Mich., passed away Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, in Traverse City, after a brief illness.

He was born March 2, 1921.

Owen was raised in Kingsford, Mich. He was a graduate of Kingsford High School, and a veteran of World War II, where he served as a military policeman in the 91st Infantry Division, seeing action in the Italian campaign, and attaining the rank of sergeant. Owen married Agnes M. Seymour of Kingsford, later Midland, and together they had five children. He worked 37 years for The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, during which time he acted as shop steward for many years, prior to being promoted to production foreman in 1974. As foreman, Owen received a letter of recognition for leading major process improvements for his department. He was a handyman who built, with friends, two houses in Midland, and a lake house for his family. Among Owen’s hobbies were hunting birds, rabbits and deer; breeding and training hunting dogs; and loading his own ammunition. He played competitive bridge, and held the rank of American Contract Bridge Life Master for over five decades. Owen taught home wiring for Midland Public Schools for eight years in Midland. He was known as “Mickey” to his family of origin and boyhood friends, and “Blackie” to his Army buddies.

Owen is survived by his wife, Joyce Peterson DeVet of Traverse City; sister, Delores Hanson of Lansing, Ill.; children, Joe (Cinda) DeVet of Houston, Texas, Reezie (Dick Munsterman) DeVet of Petoskey, Mich., Margaret (Jim) Lee of Midland; Phil (Gail) DeVet of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Max (Karen) DeVet of Shoreview, Minn.; numerous nieces and nephews; grandchildren, Debbie Eichholtz, Lee DeVet, Kathy Schmidt, Pam DeVet, Barbara Wood, Monica Bernstein, Bethany Eastman, Robert DeVet, Paul Walraven, Matt Walraven, Katy Stearns, Dan Lee, Amy Lee Baker, Nick DeVet and Chris DeVet; great-grandchildren, Joe, Tricia and Harry Eichholtz; Marty, Eddie and Charlie Schmidt; Gabe and Audrey DeVet-Adair, Wyatt, Lincoln and Sawyer Wood, Hannah, Naomi, Simeon and Teresa Bernstein, Dante Eastman, Taylor Davis, Cate and Owen Walraven, Natalie and Ian Walraven, Payton and Cal Stearns, Jack, Sophie and Maura Lee, and Josephine Baker. He was preceded in death by his wives, Agnes DeVet in 1978, and Ruth McMaster DeVet in 1991.

Visitation for family and friends will begin at 10:30 a.m., prior to the funeral Mass that will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 3801 Shore Road, Williamsburg (Acme), Mich., with Father Raymond Cotter presiding. Interment will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at New Calvary Cemetery in Midland.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation, 210 Beaumont Place, Traverse City, MI 49684, or online at www.munsonhealthcare.org/foundation. Please share your memories of Owen with his family by way of his online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

Arrangements are by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Traverse City.