Alvin William Onken

Alvin Onken Obituary

Alvin William Onken of Arlington Heights The visitation for Alvin William "Butch" Onken will be from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 12 noon Monday, Aug. 18, at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road (four blocks south of Palatine Road), Arlington Heights. Interment will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Born July 5, 1947, in Flanagan, Ill., to William Christ and Marie Elizabeth (nee Koopman) Onken, he died Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, at his home. Mr. Onken graduated from Flanagan High School. He worked for Revell Monogram Models, as a master model maker for 31 years. In his spare time he was a private pilot, he enjoyed flying airplanes as well as radio controlled airplanes. He also enjoyed skydiving. It was during his sky diving campaigns when he met his wife, Ellen. Alvin was a past member of the Arlington Heights Jaycees and a past Boy Scout leader of Troop # 132. Alvin is survived by his wife, Ellen L. (nee Sjoquist) Onken, whom he married Nov. 19, 1977; his children, Sean Christopher Onken of Arlington Heights, Heather Marie Onken of Arlington Heights and Christine (Shawn) Kingery of Albuquerque, N.M.; his grandchildren, Ashlynn and Jessica Kingery; his siblings, Retired Lt. Commander Ronald (Fern) Onken, Kathy (Michael) Erickson and Linda Cooper; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Linda (James) Clucas and Karen Rivelli; his nephews, Ricardo (Deborah) Onken, Steve (Rhoda) Onken, Timothy (Ellen) Baker and Eldon Rivelli; his nieces, Victoria (Daniel) Eyer, Sharon (Timothy) Dial Christine and Jennifer Clucas; his great-nieces and nephews, Jason, Rebecca, Ryan, Christina, Nicholas Onken and Leah Onken Painter; his great-great-nephew, Benjamin Baker; and by his most loving and faithful Papillon campanion, Thunder. He was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to: Neuro-Oncology Research Center, Kellogg Cancer Center, 2650 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL 60201. For funeral information and condolences, www.GlueckertFH.com or 847-253-0168.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Daily Herald from Aug. 16 to Aug. 17, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Alvin Onken

Sponsored by Sean C Onken.

9 Entries

Steve and Rhoda Onken

August 19, 2008

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Pamela Sullivan

August 18, 2008

I will be thinking about you all today. I will also be thinking about all the happy memories I had spending time with Al. Always so positive, and that smile of his. I never saw a more loving husband and father and I probably never will.

brian von pasecky

August 17, 2008

ill never forget his great stories

Stephanie Fiorenzo

August 17, 2008

Dear Ellen, Sean & Heather,

Knowing your husband and father over the past several years has been a pleasure. My prayers and thoughts are always with you and your family.
Please know that I am here and if there is anything I can do for you I am just a phone call away.
Take care and God Bless.
Love,
Stephanie Fiorenzo

Angela Frederico

August 17, 2008

my thoughts and prayers are with you sean and your family...you always talked so highly of your father and even though i never got to meet him he sounded like an amazing dad!!! if you need anything please dont hesitate to call... xoxo

i love you daddy

Heather Onken

August 17, 2008

Dad

i love you more than anything you have always been the greatest father always there when ever i need you always making me laugh!!!!
your always in my heart
i love you so much
love your daughter
Heather Marie Onken

Ellen (Dolly) Onken

August 17, 2008

To My Loving Husband Alvin:
You have been gone for just 3 days. We have never been separated since we have been married. I cannot stop crying, you will never know how much I miss you. The house is full of people I am I am so lonely for you. I know you went in peace. I kept my promise to you and your wishes. My life will always be yours. We will be together forever.
Your Loving Wife Dolly

Kathy Erickson

August 16, 2008

My dear brother,
With you around growing up...I guess I remember most is you going upstairs in Mom's house to the north room and building models. I remember Mom having to almost bribe you to come down for meals, go to school or do your homework. I can still see you out in a field flying your planes. You were always such a perfectionist with anything you did. I know your talent was given to you by Mom and Dad.
Oh how I remember you teaching me how to drive. It was a 3 speed on the column. Everytime I would kill the engine you would punch me in the arm. I will never forget that, I think I still have a bruise or two left after all this time because I killed the engine so many times. You taught me well and I thank you for your patience.
We were so forunate to have had such loving and giving parents.
I so enjoyed our long phone calls the last couple of years. We always seemed to never run out of things to say.
Remember Mom's sponge cake? Oh how you and Truman would eat the cake. Nobody could make it like Mom did.
For now, I just wish the best for the family you left behide. The care they gave you was priceless. I only wish I could have been there more often.

Linda Uhl

August 16, 2008

Heartfelt condolences to Ellen and family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. -- Linda Uhl and family

Showing 1 - 9 of 9 results