Larry Onken passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, at his home in Thomson, Illinois. He was surrounded by his wife, Verne, her daughter Leagh, and his surviving daughters, Heidi and Heather, and her husband Mike Van Hoof.

Larry was preceded in death by his first wife of 42 years, Maureen (“Renee”), his first daughter Lisa Ebben (Mike), his parents Ray and Ruth Onken, his oldest sister Cookee Shawver, as well as many other close and distant relatives. Among many living relatives, he is survived by his loving wife Verne, his brothers Bob (late wife Joellen) and John (Suzie), his sister Jane, his daughters Heidi Youngs (Dale) and Heather Van Hoof (Mike), his sister in law RoseAnn Granda (John), and grandchildren RoseAnn Linsmeyer (Matt), Drew Ebben (Krissy), Jacob Ebben, Ethan Youngs and Will Youngs.

Larry was born on January 17, 1938, in Morrison, Illinois. After high school, he joined the Marines with his brother Bob and was proud of his service, including his time on the Marines Track Team. For most of his career after the Marines, Larry worked as a senior millwright at Northwestern Steel in Sterling, Illinois, where he also lived with his family.

Throughout his life, Larry was a disciplined man, committed to physical fitness and weightlifting in particular. Larry had a very sharp mind right up until he passed away (Dad was the parent his daughters went to for help with math assignments), and was talented in carpentry and many other areas of craftsmanship. Larry had many hobbies, passions, and interests including birdwatching, fishing (many winters during retirement were spent in Port Aransas, Texas, fishing for Sheepshead), deer hunting with his best friend Doug Banes, and riding motorcycles on the open road, touring much of the United States and some of Canada on his bikes, and camping by tent most of the time.

Larry had a tough exterior, yet was a very compassionate man, always championing for those he saw as the underdog. He had a dry, sarcastic sense of humor, which made us all laugh (unless you were the butt of the joke, and no one was excluded from that position). He enjoyed Jose Cuervo Gold and drank lots of Old Milwaukee along the way, and would love to see all of us who knew him to raise a toast!

Family and friends are invited to share memories and express condolences on his memory page at www. mvcremation. com.