John F. Oncken

1931 - 2024

John F Oncken Sun Prairie, WI - John Fredrick Oncken, Sun Prairie, WI was born on August 24th, 1931, in rural Westport, WI and left us on December 2, 2024, in Costa Mesa, CA.

John was the oldest child of John Hajo and Melva Lillian May (Levenick) Oncken and brother to Don and Audrey. John graduated from Oregon High School and UW-Madison with an Agronomy degree. He joined ROTC during his time at UW- Madison and proudly served as an Army 1st LT (1951-1954) and was deployed to Korea during the Korean Conflict. He married Jennette Crane of Monroe, WI in August 1955 and together they raised three children, Lynne, Laurel and John. During those years they lived in Neillsville, De Pere, and Sun Prairie, WI. His wife Jennette (60 years of marriage) passed away in 2015 and for several years he continued inspiring those within the agri-business community through his newsletters and witty columns - capturing the personal and daily life of the average farmer. During that time, he met his dear friend Lois Seymour (Madison, WI) and they have shared the gift of sincere friendship for many years.

John's career spanned from his early days of dairy farming to his time as the Clark County WI Agricultural Agent, Farm Director with a morning TV show at WFRV Green Bay; Advertising Director at American Breeders Service (ABS); to GM of American Dairy Association (ADA) Wisconsin and in 1984 starting his firm (Oncken Communications, Inc.). His passion and commitment to the Dairy industry was so visible and he was always there to help dairy producers/processors take new roads to greater success!

John was passionate about his football and baseball teams (watching weekly up until his last days) and coordinating long bike trips with his local bike group. John also refereed football for 25 years. Before the family farm was sold, he enjoyed spending time there, whether in the tractor seat plowing, harvesting and stripping tobacco or just spending time with his parents near one of the many apple trees and sharing stories.

John has lived a full and rewarding life and enjoyed being a great father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a positive influence on others and his family. Even at age 93, he spoke about getting his legs back under him and "Get walking and jogging". Inspiration for a lifetime! John was fortunate to spend his last three years living semi- independently with tremendous support from family.

John entered the kingdom of heaven with a sense of calm and peace and will forever live in our hearts.

He leaves daughters Lynne Oncken, Fresno, CA and Laurel Oncken Curet, Costa Mesa, CA; son John Oncken (Joan), Grand Forks ND; grandsons Trace and Cameron Curet (Costa Mesa), Joe Oncken (Idaho Falls, ID); granddaughters Megan Oncken Riskey (Brock), Grand Forks, ND and Nicole Oncken of Grand Forks and great granddaughters Reese and Avery Riskey (Grand Forks, ND).

A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring in Madison, WI. Details will be announced at that time.