Joellen Kaye Onken

1940 - 2025

Joellen Kaye Onken

August 29, 1940 - November 25, 2025

It is with deep sadness that we announce Joellen Kaye Onken, 85, passed away November 25, 2025 at the Lutheran Nursing Home in Davenport, Iowa.

She was born August 29, 1940, in Erie, Illinois, to Teddy Dobers and Lucille Jacobs. The youngest of four children, she spent much of her youth in that rural area, raised among friends and extended family.

She married Robert Ray Onken on April 15, 1961. Together, they raised seven children: Matthew Todd (Karen) Onken, Melissa Brooke (Dan) Montez, Megan Elizabeth (Scott) Rieder, Marc Spencer (Dianne) Onken, Mary Allison (James) Taylor, Michael Joseph (Ranae) Onken, and Mitchell Robert (Sarah) Onken.

In addition to her love of her family, Jo had many other passions. Driven by a thirst for knowledge, she became a counselor later in life, when her children were grown. She loved listening to people's stories and working to help them. It was a career she enjoyed for more than 20 years.

She also loved reading and books, accumulating thousands throughout her lifetime. Every room in her house has multiple bookshelves and cabinets filled with books from every genre. Whatever difficulty you were facing, she could find a book to help.

Even before she met her husband Bob, she fell in love with horses. That love lasted her entire life, and she was lucky enough to keep horses on the Blue Grass farm she cherished. Riding, caring for, and simply seeing them out the window brought her immense joy.

While she loved animals of all kinds, Jo was particularly fond of dogs. From Sally to Scrappy to Kelsey, she always made a kind and happy home for her dogs. We are sure they are all as delighted as she is to be together again.

Jo's relationship to Jesus Christ was the cornerstone of her life. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for nearly 60 years, serving and loving the members and friends she had there.

She will be greatly missed by her husband, her children, her eighteen grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Saturday, November 29th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4929 Wisconsin Ave, Davenport, IA 52806. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. The funeral will be at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your local Humane Society.