Weird4 min(s) read
Published 15:02 27 May 2026 GMT
What was meant to be a heartfelt tribute to a beloved dad has instead sparked a fierce debate after visitors realized his gravestone contained a hidden profanity.
The memorial for Steven Paul Owens, located at Warren-Powers Cemetery in Polk County, Iowa, first appeared completely ordinary. The front of the headstone includes his name, dates of birth and death, and the phrase: “If you don’t listen, you’ll have to feel.”
But people later noticed that the first letter of each line on the back inscription formed an acrostic message spelling out: “F*** OFF.” The discovery quickly divided opinion online, with some calling it hilarious and others demanding the stone be removed.
Steven Owens passed away on September 2, 2021, per CNN. According to his obituary, he enjoyed fishing, sports, coaching children’s teams, and spending time with family. He had previously worked at Highland Memory Gardens and Pine Hill Cemeteries before retiring from the printing industry. Loved ones described him as funny, outspoken, and known for his sharp sense of humor.
Steven’s children said they wanted the memorial to capture their father’s personality rather than create something overly formal.
The inscription on the back of the stone reads: “Forever in our hearts. Until we meet again. Cherished memories. Known as our son, brother. Father, papa, uncle. Friend and cousin.”
At first, nothing about the wording appeared unusual. But once visitors realized the first letters of each line spelled out a hidden expletive, reactions spread rapidly online.
Some people praised the family’s decision.
One person wrote: “Honestly, I think it’s brilliant.”
Another added: “That’s exactly how I’d want my family to remember me.”
Steven’s daughter, Lindsay Owens, explained the phrase had long been part of her father’s sense of humor.
“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.”
His son, Zachary Owens, said their father often pretended to get irritated in a playful way.
“He was easily fired up, but it was kind of a playful thing,” Zachary explained.
Lindsay also revealed family members would intentionally tease Steven to get a reaction out of him.
“If you got him to tell you to f*** off, it meant he liked you,” she explained.
According to the family, the idea for hiding the message reportedly came from one of Steven’s cousins, and everyone immediately supported it.
Not everyone saw the gravestone as harmless humor.
According to reports, Camp Township Trustees, who oversee the cemetery, objected to the memorial before it was installed and warned the family they did not approve of the hidden profanity.
Despite those objections, the memorial company reportedly moved forward with installing the headstone anyway.
A representative for the trustees later said, per CNN: “We do not want it there. It really needs to be removed.”
Officials argued the issue went beyond one family’s tribute and raised concerns about standards within the cemetery.
“If we allow profanity of that sort in the cemetery, and that’s okay for that, how are we ever gonna draw a line on anything else?” the representative reportedly added.
Trustees also questioned whether grieving families would want their relatives buried beside a memorial containing hidden profanity. The township later confirmed it had consulted lawyers while considering possible legal action over the gravestone.
“Our intention was never to offend anyone, ever,” Lindsay explained.
Zachary added: “I would just ask that they let us remember our father in the way we remember him.”
He also responded to criticism from people upset by the hidden wording.
“No one’s forcing anyone to come out and look at it,” he said. “That’s a choice that you make.”
Although the controversy first gained attention in 2022, the story continues resurfacing online whenever people rediscover photos of the gravestone.
Supporters argue memorials should reflect the real personality of the person being remembered, while critics believe cemeteries should remain respectful public spaces free from profanity.
The debate has also sparked wider discussions about unconventional gravestones and whether humorous or controversial epitaphs belong in cemeteries at all.
Despite the backlash, the memorial reportedly still remains standing at Warren-Powers Cemetery today.
And while the inscription initially appears to be a standard farewell message, people eventually realized the first letter of each line secretly spells out the phrase: “F*** OFF.”
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