Lina Margarete Onken

Lina Margarete (nee Tomm) Onken was born November 18, 1922 to Karl Tomm and Auguste (Wolf) Tomm in Weichall, Germany. Lina was the youngest of ten children and she was predeceased by her parents, nine siblings as well as her husband Jurgen (Fink) who passed away on November 2, 1985 while duck hunting. Although we are uncertain of when Jurgen and Lina were married, Lina informed us many times that her and Fink stole their own wedding cake from their reception and hid it where they were staying because they wanted to eat the whole thing themselves.

Lina lost her mother when she was three years old and her father when she was twelve, forcing her to go into an orphanage until her oldest sister Martha was able to take her in. Lina grew up in a very harsh and chaotic time, always on the move trying to stay away from the war.

In 1951 Lina and Jurgen immigrated to Canada, landing in Quebec City on November 24 aboard the ship “Scythia”. From there they rode the train to Stony Plain where Lina had family; a sister Hulda (Tomm) Breitkreutz and a brother, Eric Tomm. Lina also had another brother (Robert) who lived in Barrhead.

Lina and Fink rented when they first arrived in Stony Plain, and did so until they were able to build their little house in 1955. Lina lived there until she went to Whispering Water’s five years ago, and then later to George Hennig Place. Thank you to those who cared for her in both places and at Westview Health Centre her last few days.

Linda had many jobs after arriving at her new home in Stony Plain, starting with a job at a hotel where she worked as a custodian. She was also employed at the Post Office, but finished her working career as a high school custodian.

Lina enjoyed her gardening. She always had a perfect garden and a yard full of flowers. Lina could be seen going up town on her bicycle to the Co-op, the butcher shop and to her coffee clutch group on Wednesdays.

Lina enjoyed traveling and gambling, taking many trips back to Germany and Hawaii as well as many trips to Reno, Las Vegas and California. Lina was a strong church goer and enjoyed letting the pastor kniw if they were doing a good job or not. Lina was strong like an ox, worked like a mule and was as stubborn as a donkey. She was a strong willed person who would never back down. She enjoyed singing, dancing and music.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

(2 Timothy 4:7)