George Oniu

George Oniu passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, with his loving wife and caregiver, Sheila Deitloff-Oniu, by his side. He was 96.\r\n\r\nBorn in Canada, George became an American citizen after World War II. George lived in Michigan most of his working years (Detroit, Rochester Hills and Bay View). In retirement, he moved to Texas, where he lived at The Live Oaks and lastly in Kerrville.\r\n\r\nHis beautiful blue eyes were first observed on Aug. 14, 1921, by his parents, Helen and Serghei Oniu on their farm outside of Regina, located in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. George was one of 12 siblings. His only surviving sibling is his younger brother, Dan Oniu, who lives in Clarkston, Michigan.\r\n\r\nWhile tinkering with motors and machinery on the farm, George developed a lifelong passion for cars. Life on the farm was not in the cards he loved to play, so at age 14, he struck out on his own. During WWII, George served in the Canadian Army as an artilleryman.\r\n\r\nAfter the war, he moved to the Motor City, where he met many lifelong friends and married Veronica (Vera) Holovenchuk, the mother of his children. Settling in Rochester, Michigan, they raised their children, and he supported his family as the owner of an auto repair and car sales business. Vera died of complications of leukemia in 2001.\r\n\r\nGeorge is survived by their children, Gregory Alan Oniu (Rhonda), who reside in Oregon; Rosemary Blair Gorman (granddaughter Rachel), who reside in New York State; and Dianne Oniu Boyd (Timothy), who lives in Allen, Texas, (granddaughters Lauren Boyd Gellhaus and husband, Aaron, of Austin, and McKenna Elizabeth Boyd, living in Houston).\r\n\r\nGeorge and Sheila were blessed to find each other later in life and married in 2003. Sheila's extraordinary caring, support and companionship to George have been a blessing for which his family is grateful.\r\n\r\nA memorial service was held Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Riverside Church of Christ. A second memorial service with interment of his ashes will take place this summer in Michigan.\r\n\r\nGeorge will be remembered for his welcoming smile, making friends of all he encountered, always thinking the best of others and the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.\r\n