Helga M. Onan, age 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at Bethany Home in Waupaca, WI.
She was born June 5, 1925 in the Town of New Hope, Portage Co., WI; daughter of William and Petra (Peterson) Loberg. On December 27, 1947, Helga married Frank Onan Jr. at North New Hope Lutheran Church and together they shared 50 years of marriage before his passing on January 2, 1998. Besides being a consummate homemaker, she had a long career with Palmer Publications as an editor of multiple publications. Helga enjoyed sewing, gardening, and baking and was well known for her Norwegian baked goods. She volunteered at both St. Michaels Hospital in Stevens Point and TRACK (Tomorrow River Area Community Kitchen) in Amherst. Helga will be dearly missed by all of her loving family and friends.
Helga is survived by her children: Gary (Linda Sawyer) Onan of Ellsworth, WI, Michael (Connie Bacon) Onan of Plymouth, MN, Gail (Terry) Schley of New London, WI, and David (Mary Patoka) Onan of Amherst, WI; ten grandchildren: Karen (John Nelson) McAdams of Richardson, TX; Peter (fiancée, Michela Denoncourt) Onan of Oneida, NY; Bridget (Adam) Heltne of Houlton, WI; Kyle (Mariah Levison) Onan of Minneapolis, MN; Andrea (Bert) Stone of Shoreview, MN; Leslie (James) Bohl of Minneapolis, MN; Crystal (Austin) Retzlaff of Clintonville, WI; Olivia (Ted) Halbur of Fond du Lac, WI; William (Megan) Thoma of Greenville, WI, and Andrew Onan of Amherst, WI; 17 great-grandchildren: Ian and Christopher McAdams, Isaac and Anna Heltne, Wyatt and Arriana Stone, Shea and Lila Bohl, Soren and Everett Onan, Evan, Onan, and Egen Retzlaff, Ebrielle Thoma, Jebediah, Abijah, and Hattie Halbur; and one sister-in-law, Irene Loberg of Menomonee Falls, WI. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Petra Loberg; her husband, Frank Onan Jr.; a granddaughter, Kathleen Thoma; a son-in-law, Evan Thoma; two brothers, Norman and Casper Loberg; a sister, Effie Henke; a brother-in-law, Llewelyn Henke; and a sister-in-law, Leona Loberg.
A Celebration of Helga’s Life will be on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Amherst, WI. Reverend Dwight Anderson will officiate. A visitation will be held on Saturday morning from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Amherst following the services on Saturday. The Jungers-Holly Funeral Home of Amherst is assisting the family with arrangements.