Lewis Owen Presnell

Lewis “Owen” Presnell, 87, of Greenwood, IN, went to be with the Lord on May 12, 2026, three days before his 88th birthday. He was born on May 15, 1938, in Brooksville, FL, son of Bascom “Lewis” and Alice “Jeanette” (Holiday) Presnell.

Owen lived a life defined by hard work, devotion to family, service to his country, and a deep love for the water and the people around him.

As a young boy, Owen’s family later moved to Evans, GA before settling in Port St. Joe, FL in 1954. He graduated from Port St. Joe High School in 1956 and continued his education at Chipola Junior College.

Owen proudly served his country in the Army National Guard from 1957 to 1963 with the Apalachicola Armory in Apalachicola, FL. In 1959, he completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, earning the rank of Second Lieutenant and serving as a Tank Commander. He carried great pride in his military service throughout his life and loved sharing stories from those years.

Anyone who knew Owen would tell you he was one of the hardest-working men they had ever known. Work was not only his livelihood — it was part of who he was. Even in his later years, he continued working until semi-retiring in 2022. He built a successful career as a crane operator with the R.H. Marlin Construction Company, later becoming one of three owners of the business. After selling his interest in the company at age 50, he started Presnell Excavating, which he operated for decades with determination and pride.

Beyond work, Owen’s greatest joy was fishing. He loved being on the water, telling fishing and Army stories, and hosting fish fries for family and friends. His passion for fishing began while growing up on St. Joe Bay, where his father and brothers built and operated “Presnell’s Fish Camp,” now known as Presnell’s Bayside Marina & RV Resort. The bay was truly their backyard. The family spent their days running the fish camp, selling tackle, renting boats, guiding fishermen, fishing, and shrimping at night to support their live bait business along the Florida coast. Those memories remained close to Owen’s heart throughout his life.

In 1959, Owen met the love of his life, Sharon “June” Marlin, one of thirteen children, had moved with her family to Port St. Joe while the R.H. Marlin Construction Company worked on building a chemical plant near the St. Joe Paper Company. Just six months after meeting, Owen and June were married on September 5, 1959, in Bloomington. Together they built a beautiful life and shared 66 years of marriage filled with faith, family, hard work, and unwavering love.

Owen was a faithful attendee of Southland Community Church and lived his life with quiet strength, generosity, and dedication to those he loved.

In addition to his parents, Owen was preceded in death by his younger brothers, Paul Presnell and John Presnell; and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family members from both the Presnell and Marlin families.

Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife, June “Marlin” Presnell; sons, Kevin (Sheila) Presnell and Kyle Presnell (Tami Goode); grandchildren, Kolton (Amanda) Presnell, Konnor Presnell (Sophie Ledgerwood), Khloe Presnell Anderson (Brandon Dye), Makenzi Presnell Waters (Jarrett), and Klint (Courtney) Presnell; his seven great-grandchildren, Kane Wylie, Karsyn Anderson, Kash Anderson, Kohen Presnell, Kennedy Presnell, Reagan Presnell, and Lincoln Presnell; many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and countless friends who loved him dearly.

Owen will be remembered for his unmatched work ethic, his love of family, his stories that could captivate a room, and the generosity he showed through simple moments shared around a fishing dock or a family fish fry. His legacy lives on in the family he loved so deeply and in the many lives he touched throughout his remarkable journey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Southland Community Church or the Alzheimer's Association.

Family and friends will gather at 11 am on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Southland Community Church where the Celebration of Life Service will begin at 12:00 pm.

Arrangements entrusted to Distinctive Cremation.

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