Gerhard Robert Onnen of Hebron, NE was born July 21, 1924 on a farm near Gladstone, Nebraska to Gerhard Onno Onnen and Mary (Bauer) Onnen. He departed this life on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at the age of 91 years. Gerhard was baptized on August 3, 1924 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Gladstone. He was confirmed on April 10, 1938. His confirmation verse was "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my Word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24. Gerhard attended Fairbury Public Schools where he played and lettered in baseball. He graduated with the Class of 1942. On June 2, 1946, Gerhard married his life's partner, DeLoris Kruse, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Gladstone, Nebraska with Rev. Lawrence Wachholz officiating. To this union, seven children were born: Sandra, Robert, Michael, Thomas, Timothy, Joel and Richard. Gerhard was a loving and dedicated husband and father, and his family was his pride and joy. Gerhard and DeLoris moved to a farm southeast of Gilead where they developed and operated a diversified dryland and livestock farm. He was a jack-of-all trades on the farm: building-on to the house and constructing several of the farm outbuildings, and engaging creative repairs for nearly everything that broke down on the farm. Gerhard believed in good land stewardship and was recognized for his conservation efforts in 1965. The family received a Pioneer Farm Award for a century of land ownership in the Onnen family in 2013. His gentle, soft-spoken and hard-working nature was his hallmark as a respected man in the community and family. Gerhard also served as a 4-H leader for many years and was a leader on the Thayer County Fair Board. Through the years, he was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Gladstone, Faith Lutheran, Hebron and Grace Lutheran in Fairbury. He was also active in the Lutheran Laymen's League and served as a club and zone officer. He had a servant heart and helping people gave him great pleasure and satisfaction. In 1989, upon retirement from farming, Gerhard and DeLoris joined the "Laborers For Christ", a volunteer organization of the Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod which builds churches, schools, parish halls and other buildings for religious purposes. They made many very special friends and lasting memories in the eleven years of service, working on 17 building projects in eight states. Gerhard worked as the foreman for most of those jobs.
He was preceded in death by his parents Gerhard and Mary, four brothers, Arnold, Alvin Wilbur, and Alfred, wife DeLoris, two children, Robert and Sandra Jones and one grandson Stephen Onnen.
He is survived by children Mick and wife Nila of Davenport, Tom and wife Marna of Valencia, CA, Tim and wife Kim of Branson, MO, Joel and wife Mary of Omaha, Rick and wife Christina of Lincoln, son-in-law Marty Jones of Edwards, CO, daughter-in-law Barb Onnen of Hebron, sixteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.
A life celebration will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, Hebron on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 10:30 AM with Rev. Christopher Gerdes officiating. Visitation (note the time and date) will be Sunday December 20, 2015 at Kroll Funeral Home in Hebron, NE 1pm to 7pm. Casket bearers are grandsons: T.J. Onnen, Ben Onnen, Alan Onnen, Nate Onnen, Nick Onnen, Jacob Onnen, and Michael Onnen, honorary casket bearers are granddaughters: Stacey Jones, Carley Schreiber, Erin Onnen, Lisa Ehrisman, Melissa Chaddick, Melanie Onnen, Katie Onnen, Rebecca Onnen, Courtney Onnen. Burial will be in the Grace Lutheran Cemetery near Gladstone at 1:30 PM.
Condolences may be left at www.krollfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been designated for The Lutheran Hour, Orphan Grain Train, and Lutheran Boys and Girls Home of South Dakota.
Kroll Funeral Home of Hebron, NE are in care of arrangements.