Doris Mae Oncken, 104, of Rockford, Illinois passed away peacefully at Wesley Willows, Rockford, Illinois, on Sunday, July 20, 2025. She was born on February 19, 1921, to George and Helen Marshall of Belvidere, Illinois. Doris shared the same birthday date with both her father and her great-grandson, Elliott, age 11. Doris married Rodney J. Oncken on May 23, 1942, and they shared a long happy life together. Rodney passed away two months short of their 71st anniversary. They lived and raised their family in Belvidere, Illinois before retiring to Friendship, Wisconsin in 1985. Doris moved to Wesley Willows when Rodney passed away in 2013. Doris was a stay-at-home Mom until her children were in school, at which time she worked as a stenographer at the State Attorney's Office in Belvidere. Later she worked as a bookkeeper at DeWane Livestock Exchange also in Belvidere.
Doris was a "people person" and loved helping others. Her home was always open to guests for meals, birthday parties, Fourth of July picnics, etc. She also loved music and played the piano to accompany her children and other students in high school music contests. As a teenager, Doris, her brother Roger, and her sister, Betty, sat together on a piano bench and played many songs. They were known as the "Marshall Trio" and were often called upon to play at church or at Grange meetings. At her 104th birthday party, Doris was interviewed by 3 local TV stations. When asked about her longevity, she replied "drink your milk and behave!" She then went on to advise folks to love and enjoy every day of their lives and to love people – especially their own children.
Doris is survived by a son, Gerald (Joan) Oncken of Woodinville, Washington, and a daughter, Nancy (Gordon) Wells of Mansfield, Ohio, as well as three grandchildren – Andrea Oncken (Adam Callahan) of Portland, Oregon; Adelina (John) Thelen and Joshua (Kelli) Oncken, both of Issaquah Washington, and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters: Betty Clark of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Carol Conger of Batavia, Illinois.
The service will be held at Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services, 218 W. Hurlbut Ave., in Belvidere at 1:00 pm, on Wednesday, July 30, with visitation from 12:00 pm until the time of the service, which will be officiated by Doris' nephew, Rev. Steven Conger. Burial will follow at the Highland Garden of Memories in Belvidere. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.