It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Delores “Dee” Ruth Onnen, 82, of Perry. She passed peacefully on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at her home in Perry, Iowa, surrounded by her loved ones.
Dee was born May 3, 1942, in Dumont, Iowa, to Harold and Margaret Miller.
She grew up and received her education from Parkersburg High School, where she was a cheerleader and majorette — and rumored a competitive diver although the jury’s still out on that one.
Dee went on to beauty school in Iowa City and later in life attended DMACC for liberal arts.
She was a bookkeeper and co-owner of O & W Transport Inc., owner of Pathways Holistic Healing, co-founder of D & K Enterprises Inc. and was also an abuse counselor at the Crisis Intervention and Advocacy Center in Adel during her DMACC years.
Dee was united in marriage to the love of her life, Keith Onnen, on Aug. 21, 1959, and while the couple traveled far and near, they ultimately made their forever home in Perry.
Dee loved spending the summers with her family at Cutty’s, on trips to Las Vegas with Keith, taco salads at Pucci’s and spoiling her grandchildren at every opportunity (Just don’t tell Grandpa!).
Of all of Dee’s many talents and gifts, writing and Reiki were her two greatest passions. Dee became a certified Reiki master because one of her greatest joys in life was to be of service to others. Dee wrote several books about her experiences along her Reiki journey, as well as poems and an autobiography.
She will be deeply missed by her children, Brad (Deb) Onnen, Boyd Onnen, Mitch (Michelle) Onnen, Shane (Julie) Onnen and granddaughter Cameron Onnen; grandchildren, Shawnda (Terry) Milam,; Josh (Brandi) Chevalier, Charlotte Sloan, Corree Chevalier, Cody (Emily) Onnen, Nichole (Robert) Barron, Jerica (Connor) Wiborg, Samantha Coyle, Colby Onnen, Charles Onnen, Breann (Jerimy) Wickson and Marcus Schmitz; great-grandchildren, Luna, Londyn, Lux, Oakley, Anisley, Audrey, Declan O., Waylon, Adrian, Aurora, Wrigley, Tyler, Thadeus, Laila, Liam, McKenzee, Declan C., Kyla, Kinzlee, Corison and Sarai; siblings, Katheryn “Toot” (Norm) Venenga, Dean Miller, Mary McBride and Linda (Craig) Stickley; sister-in-law, Robyn (Howard) Thielen; and last but certainly not least, her dear friend Penney Wilson Sells.
She was predeceased by her grandparents, Claus and Rica Miller; her parents, Harold and Margaret; her loving husband of 62 years, Keith; her brother-in-law, Craig; and her niece, Tracey.
A Celebration of Dee’s Life will be held at a later date. Dee will be laid to rest at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa.
We would like to send a special thank you to the staff at Sun Crest Home Health and Hospice for their care and compassion as well as to all of our truly amazing friends who have gone above and beyond for us during this difficult time.
Memorial donations may be made in Dee’s name to the Crisis Intervention and Advocacy Center, 911 Court St., Adel, Iowa 50003.
Lastly, as Dee was a talented writer, we would like to leave you all with a poem written by her to cherish her memory. It is entitled “Rainbow.”
I first saw you as a vision of golden rays, streaming down from our heaven,
A gift from Great Spirit, of healing love, and a divine light for all on earth.
For reaching oneness of the body, mind, spirit and inner soul of my being,
I welcomed all the blessings with an open mind and a gladness of my heart.
Now, I see a change of my vision, as the healing rays come flowing down,
I see a rainbow of colors, I see promises of higher blessings coming to me,
A spiritual glory I have never yet before reached in my lifetimes on earth.
I see spiritual love, eternal life for me, renewal of mind, soul and spirit,
A divine light reaching out, calling me, into the rainbows of healing love,
Calling me into the oneness of her being, as we are together again, forever.
