- Date Of Birth: April 17, 1935
- Date Of Death: April 18, 2021
- State: Iowa
Phyllis Duling Onnen of West Des Moines, Iowa died on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at the MercyOne Hospice House in Johnston following a brief illness. Phyllis Jean Duling was born April 17, 1935 in Coon Rapids, Iowa to Martin and Mildred (Wood) Duling. Phyllis was raised in the Coon Rapids area and graduated from Coon Rapids High. Phyllis kept close ties with her high school friends, and they gathered often to share happy memories. She moved to Des Moines after high school, where she worked in insurance and real estate businesses.
On April 3, 1964, Phyllis was united in marriage to Ronald Onnen in a ceremony in Bellevue, Nebraska. Ron and Phyllis would celebrate 51 years of wedded life in April 2015. Ron passed at the age of 76 years that same year. Phyllis and Ron immensely enjoyed life in the country for many years before moving to The Lodge of Ashworth in West Des Moines in early 2015.
Phyllis and Ron worked as a team when he took over his father’s sales position in the early 1970’s. They then ventured out in the early 1980’s to begin their own business.
Ron and Phyllis worked from their home, taking and filling orders, while Ron also toured the state calling on drug stores. This was the beginning of the Onnen Company, which still today specializes in selling a complete line of prescription packaging and pharmacy supplies in Iowa and throughout the central United States and beyond. They were thankful and pleased to leave a productive, successful company to daughter, Jody, and son-in-law, Randy, upon Ron’s retirement in 1995.
In their retirement years, Phyllis and Ron enjoyed traveling throughout the United States. They took great pleasure in spending many happy weekends and vacations at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. They also spent several winters in Florida.
Phyllis enjoyed hosting family events and always saw that an amazing cake was part of those celebrations. In her spare moments, she could be found crafting something beautiful to adorn their home or to gift to friends and family. She also loved to find and add lovely cut-glass pieces to her impressive collection. Phyllis lived life fully and her presence will be dearly missed by all her many family and friends who loved her.
Left to cherish Phyllis’ memory are her daughter, Jody (Randy) Leventhal of Waukee; grandchildren, Joshua (Andrea) Leventhal of Chicago, Illinois and Sarah (Matt) Buchanan of West Des Moines; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Eliana Leventhal and Liam and Maggie Buchanan; sister, Joan (Jim) Strautman of Carroll; brother-in-law, Bernie (Ann) Onnen of Schaller; special niece and nephew, Doris and Danny Pickell of Madrid; sister-in-law, Leah Duling of St. Paul, MN; and brother-in-law, Pedro Hernandez of Sun City, California; nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends.
In addition to her husband, Ron, Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Mildred Duling; her parents-in-law, Ben and Maxine Onnen; brother, Martin Duling; sister, Marilyn Hernandez; and step-brother-in-law, Junior Sims.
