ONKEN, Keith Andrew, Jr.1952-2012

ONKEN, WOODWORTH, SHULTZ

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/21/2012 at 11:59:54

Keith Onken Jr.

#1:

CHARLES CITY, IOWA - Keith Onken Jr., 60, of Charles City, died Wednesday, June 20, 2012, in his home.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 25, at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City. Pastor Dennis Niezwaag of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charles City, will officiate. Interment will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens, Charles City, with full military rites by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.

Friends may greet the family 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Hauser Funeral Home. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the service on Monday.

The Hauser Funeral Home, Charles City, 641-228-2323, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com.

[Globe Gazette online, June 21, 2012]

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#2:

Keith Onken, Jr.

Birth: March 25, 1952
Death: June 20, 2012

Keith Onken, Jr., age 60 of Charles City died Wednesday, June 20, 2012, in his home.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 25, 2012, at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City. Pastor Dennis Niezwaag of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charles City, will officiate. Interment will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens, Charles City, with full military rites by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit. Friends may greet the family 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Hauser Funeral Home. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the service on Monday.

Keith Andrew Onken, Jr. was born March 25, 1952, in San Francisco, Calif., the son of Keith and Alberta (Woodworth) Onken, Sr. Keith, Sr. was a career Air Force man, which moved the family quite frequently. The family moved to Ohio, Massachusetts, Florida, and Michigan.

During his father's two tours in Vietnam, the family lived in Iowa. After his dads retirement, the whole family moved to Charles City. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1970, where he was a first team NEIC basketball player during his senior year. He attended NIACC for one year playing on the school's basketball team. He started working at Sara Lee in New Hampton in 1972.

He was united in marriage to Marilyn Shultz. To this union, a daughter Julie was born. The couple later divorced. On July 18, 1975, he enlisted in the Air Force. Keith was honorably discharged in 1979 as a Sergeant. He returned to Sara Lee and worked there until the plant closed in 2000. Keith met Val Crumpton, and the couple wed at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1983. To this union, a daughter Jamie was born.

On May 1st, 2000, he went to work for Fort Dodge Animal Health, which later became Pfizer until his sickness forced him to leave. Keith enjoyed spending time with family and friends, listening to the Beatles, golfing, going to Major League Baseball games, and cheering for his Baltimore Orioles. He also looked forward to family reunions, visiting with family, drinking, and shooting the breeze. Keith enjoyed playing fetch with Scooter and having her lay on his lap. He was a very kind and gentle man, who will be missed by all. Keith's words to live by were, "it is what it is."

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 29 years, Val; two daughters, Jamie Onken of Charles City, Julie (Kelly) Berggren of Williams, Minn.; three grandchildren, Brooklyn, Hudson, and Ryker Berggren; two uncles, Art Onken of Osage, Jim (Jean) Onken of Orchard; an aunt, Donna Onken of Omaha, Nebr.; a cat, Izzy; and a dog, Braylee.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Connie Becker; his mother and father-in-law; and many aunts and uncles.

[Hauser Funeral Home website]