Gary Alan Onnen

Gary Alan Onnen, 71, died January 23, 2022, due to complications from Covid, in Phoenix, Arizona. Gary was born September 5, 1949, in Morris, Minnesota, the son of Ralph Edwin and Nancy Tyree Onnen. When Gary was young, his family moved to Chino Valley Arizona, where Ralph managed a Dairy. Gary attended Chino Valley Elementary and Junior High School. He graduated From Prescott High School in 1969. After graduation he attended Yavapai Community College. Gary was drafted in to the US Army in 1971, and served as an Ammunition Specialist at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, during the Vietnam War.

Gary married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Stone. They celebrated 52 years of marriage in December 2021. Gary worked most of his adult life at Abitibi Papermill in Snowflake. The past five years he was a bus driver for Sequoia Village School. Gary loved to hunt and fish, once he had grandsons to go with him, he spent a lot of time teaching them to hunt and fish and he would take anyone that wanted to go. Gary loved gardening, he has several different types of roses growing in his yard, vegetables in his raised beds, and fruit trees. Gary spent many years as a volunteer loan officer for Rim Country Credit Union and served as a Union President at the Papermill. Gary and Cheryl served as Field Directors for the Miss Arizona Scholarship Pageant for 12 years. He also served as judge, security, interview training, and special events.

Gary was a devout Christian and a member of Burton Baptist Church. He went on several missions’ trips with Cheryl and helped out at many Vacation Bible Schools. Gary did not get the opportunity to go with Cheryl on her many Taiwan missions’ trips, but became good friends with the people from Taiwan that came to visit.

Gary is proceeded in death by his parents, Ralph Edwin Onnen, Nancy Tyree, and two grandsons, Grant Delanson Snair and Forrest Zachary Touchstone.

Gary is survived by his wife Cheryl (Stone) Onnen of Snowflake, his daughters Anne Lang (Bryan) of Snowflake and Kristen Snair (Eric) of Glendale; seven grandchildren, Garrison Touchstone (Jesyca) of Snowflake, Chandler Touchstone (Ivy) of Show Low, Katie Touchstone of Sedalia MO, Brooklynn Lang, Brynlynn Lang, and Ellianne Lang of Snowflake, Lauren Snair and Emelia Snair of Glendale and five great-grandchildren, Raegan, Noah, Emery, Wilder, and baby Touchstone due in May, two brothers, Dennis Onnen (Geri), Bradley Onnen (Leslie), and four sisters, Linda Giron, Bonnie Onnen, Shelia Petz (Gary), and Paula Sharp.

Services will be February 18, at 2:00pm at Calvary Chapel Snowflake, 311 S 1st St E, Snowflake, AZ. There will be no visitation. Clergy-Pastor Gary Knighton. Burial-Mike Ramsay Memorial Cemetery, Snowflake.

Pallbearers: Dennis Onnen, Bradley Onnen, Garrison Touchstone, Chandler Touchstone, Bryan Lang and Eric Snair

Honorary Pallbearers: Bob Seymour, Chuck Dutcher, Noah Touchstone, and Wilder Touchstone