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Bernard O. Onerheim

1917 - 2006

 

Ottumwa — Bernard “Barney” Onerheim, 89, of 1 Pennsylvania Place, died at 12:25 a.m. November 5, 2006 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

He was born March 18, 1917 in Big Timber, Sweet Grass County, Montana to Rev. Lars O. and Martha Snorteland Onerheim. He married Margaret Elizabeth Ott June 14, 1944 in Evanston, Illinois. She preceded him in death on July 2, 2002.

His education through high school was in Madison, Minnesota, graduating in 1935. He graduated from St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minnesota in 1940 with a B.A. degree in Vocal and Instrumental Music, and from Northeast Missouri State University (Truman State) with an M.A. in Music.

He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the European Theatre of Operations as a member of the 78th Infantry Division Band. He taught vocal and/or instrumental music in Klemme, Iowa; Clarkfield and Luverne, Minnesota; Milton, Richland and Ottumwa, Iowa Community School Districts. He was a member of the Sorden Music Co. staff in 1950-1958. He was a member of the National Education Association and the Iowa State Education Association. He was a founding member of the National Education Association, Retired. He served on the Regional Retirement Living, Inc. Board of Directors. His chief hobby was genealogy and he was a member of the Sons of Norway. His life memberships were in the Wapello County, Iowa Museum and the Vesterheim Museum of
Decorah, Iowa.

Surviving are two sons, Paul (Carol) Onerheim of Greenbank, Washington; Neil (Judith Nathanson) Onerheim of Andover, Massachusetts; three daughters, Jean (Robby) Little of Wilmington, North Carolina, Kari (James) Burns of Decorah, Iowa and Lora (Danny) Hoy of Hampton, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Lynn (Jeff Gay) Onerheim and Lisa Onerheim, Bert and Curtis Little, Morgan and Tad Burns, Leslie and Colin Hoy; two sisters, Ruth Stuart of Bellevue, Nebraska and Alice (Ed) McClean of Whittier, California.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Peggy; a brother, Luther Onerheim; and two sisters, Margarette Onerheim and Gratia Hauge.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Lutheran Church with Rev. Ralph Kister officiating. Cremation will follow services.

Visitation will begin after 3 p.m. Monday at the Reece Funeral Home with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.

source: © Copyright Ottumwa Courier, 213 E. Second St. Ottumwa, IA Daily Courier, Ottumwa, Iowa, 5 Nov 2006

 

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