Gordon Dean Ongie passed into the realm of eternal life on January 14, 2011.

Gordon was born on January 21, 1932 Detroit Michigan. He was the son of Ivy Carter Ongie and Clarence Ongie. Gordon was raised primarily in Marquette, Michigan.

He entered the US Navy at the age of 17, choosing to obtain his GED from Ontonagon Area High School in 1973.

Gordon was stationed in Cuba during the Korean War. He returned to Marquette, Michigan and worked at Bunny Bread and the Northland Hotel, where he met his former wife, Evelyn Townsend. They were married on July 24, 1953. They moved to Ontonagon, Michigan soon after, where Gordon was employed at the White Pine Copper Mine.

Gordon was pre-deceased by his parents, and a daughter Anne M. Ongie who died in infancy and son-in-law Fran Yanasak.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years Elsie E. (Honkavaara) (Stenson) Ongie who he married on December 27, 1980, and by his children, Randall D. (Claranne) Ongie, of Murfreesboro, TN, Cynthia J. (John) Zbaracki, of Farmington, MN, Linda S. (George) Beck, of Hurley, WI, Daniel G. Ongie of Apopka, FL and by Patricia E. Ongie of Madison, AL. Also surviving are two step daughters, Diane L. Yanasak and Dorothy J.(Joe) Sharkey, both of Ontonagon, MI. Other survivors include sisters Dorothy (Tony) Cline and Florence Burchfield of Lansing and his special cousin Dorothy aka Dolly (Jim) Daugherty of Ishpeming. Gordon's grandchildren were the light of his life and they are: Katherine Perttunen, David (Alissa) Ongie, John (Angie) Zbaracki, Jennifer Zbaracki, Matthew (Lettie) Ongie, Timothy Zbaracki, Chelsea (Ben) Nikula, Jared Ongie and Hannah Grawn, Danielle Ongie and Garrett Ongie, step grandchildren, David and Corissa Beck. Also surviving are great granddaughters Bailey Lubinski, Kiira Pekuri and Fiona Ongie.

He was a lifetime member of the Ontonagon VFW Post 5600 and served as Post Commander, The White Pine American Legion, The White Pine Lions Club, past member of the County Veterans Board, and a member of the Siloa/Faith Lutheran Church.

Gordon worked for White Pine Copper Co. (later known as Copper Range) from 1954 until its closure in 1993, spending the bulk of that time as a millwright in the surface shop. He ended his tenure as a security guard.

He was well known to his friends and co-workers as a competent cribbage opponent, quick wit, and was an avid reader. In later years he enjoyed his "coffee time" at Antonio's Restaurant at the White Pine Mall with his friends. Gordon and Elsie wintered at their home in Sebring, FL and spent several years there before declining health forced them to sell the house and live out their years at their home in White Pine and then at the Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital Long Term Care.

Services along with full military rites will be held on Friday, January 21, 2011at 1:00 PM EST at the Siloa Lutheran Church in Ontonagon with Pastor John Audio with Gordon's son Pastor Randy Ongie assisting. Visitation will be at 12:00 PM EST. There will be luncheon in the church basement following the service. Interment will take place with burial in the spring.