Marjorie Onsgard
Elementary teacher, world traveler

Mt. San Antonio Gardens resident Marjorie Onsgard—who smiled all the time, said her daughter, Karen Onsgard—died on May 20, 2009 after “95 happy and fulfilling years balanced between family, career and friends,” wrote her daughter. 

“Wherever Marjorie went, she gathered kind and caring lifelong friends. She was active and outgoing, and everybody just really did love her,” remarked her daughter, who also described her mother as “lady-like, energetic, giving, understanding and patient.” 

Ms. Onsgard grew up in Upper Peninsular Michigan where she followed her sister, Ruth, through college, graduate school and teaching in Detroit. There, on a blind date, she met and married Henry, a young lawyer working for the federal government. Immediately, the couple was transferred to Georgia where they spent the war years.

After their son Henry was born, Ms. Onsgard and her family moved to Texas where their daughter Karen was born. Again, they were transferred to Washington, DC where they enjoyed a particularly happy period. In 1966, they moved to Claremont.

Although her husband’s career came first, Ms. Onsgard successfully pursued a 30-year teaching career that began in the Fairfax County School District in northern Virginia and culminated at Banna Elementary School in the Charter Oak Unified School District in Covina. Upon retiring from teaching, Ms. Onsgard became a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Claremont.

Throughout her life, Ms. Onsgard actively participated in numerous social, political, religious and philanthropic organizations including the Red Cross, the American Association of University Women, the Opera Guild, the Rembrandt Club, Business and Professional Women and Republican Women. She also traveled the world, exploring Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Australia in her lifetime, and she loved bridge, which she continued to enjoy with her girlfriends into her 90s.

For many years, Ms. Onsgard resided at Mt. San Antonio Gardens, enjoying close friendships and a variety of activities that kept her lively and joyful. 

Ms. Onsgard is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Henry and Laura Onsgard, and their daughter, Kristen; and by her daughter, Karen Onsgard, and her partner, Harriet.

Services were held on Friday, May 29, 2009 at Forest Lawn, Covina Hills.  A reception followed at Mt. San Antonio Gardens.

Memorial donations may be made to the Charter Oak Community Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1763, Covina, CA 91722.