Ella Marie Onken

Onken, Ella Marie, of South Haven, died Sunday morning, February 3, 2013 at home, age 90. She was born March 23, 1922 in Emison, Indiana, daughter of the late Willard O. and Ruth E. Crawford. She was a 1940 graduate of Oaktown High School, Indiana. On September 19, 1942, she married Carl W Onken in Vincennes, Indiana. He predeceased her on July 28, 2011.  Ella was a loving mother to her children Dana Marie Onken (Emery), of South Haven, and a son Karl Eric Onken, who also predeceased her in 2000. She was a beloved grandmother to Terry Anton Emery and Karl Mark Emery, both of Tucson, AZ, Glenn Michael Onken, of Parker, CO, Kristin Louise Olney, of Yukon, OK, and Keefer Dylan Onken, of Castle Rock, CO; great grandchildren Mark Daniel Emery and Harrison Michael Emery, Alexander and Patrick Onken, Erik and Ryleigh Olney, and Carter and Sydney Ella Onken. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Janette Tatlock, Alta Bourgeois, and Sue Reed. 

Ella was in 4H as a student, worked as an assembler for RCA in Bloomington, IN, before moving to East Lansing, MI, where Carl W. Onken was chief engineer at CBS Broadcasting’s WLNS/WJIM-TV/AM/FM. She also enjoyed working retail sales at Green’s Apparel in the Frandor Shopping Center, Lansing, MI for many years.

Ella’s beautiful pale blue eyes and amazing smile will be missed by friends and family. There will be a memorial service at a future date. Interment will take place at McDowell Cemetery in South Haven.