Caroline L. Ontjes, 87 of Rockford, formerly of the Freeport area died on January 14, 2024 at Independence Village in Rockford.  She met her husband, Gerald at Burgess Battery in Freeport Illinois in 1956 and they married 8/10/1957.  She had wanted to go on to be a nurse after school, but after needing thyroid surgery early on, she wasn't able to finish that path. She was a homemaker for years, but later on she went back to work in retail, retiring from Osco Drug.

She was an avid gardener with a huge green thumb and was known by family and friends for her lavish flower gardens as well as her giant vegetable garden. She had so many talents and hobbies; she was a talented seamstress, knitted and crocheted, did counted cross stitch and took up woodworking, upholstery, and ceramics.  She was an avid reader, and there wasn't a day's end without her nose in a book.

Caroline was a very hardworking woman and was always, always there to help someone with whatever big undertaking they were involved in. She helped Gerald build an add-on to their previous house, helped shingle at least 4 different roofs in her lifetime, helped Gerald in building their last house, and even dug the foundation to an added room years later. At the age of 75, she was helping to remove all the wallpaper from her daughter's new house at the time in the dead of winter.

She loved any opportunity to help out family and friends. Gerald always said "if I had the hammer, she had the nail"!  She loved Gerald and the family can't count high enough to tell how many times they heard about how they met and how handsome she thought he was (even at the end), and how her mother told her to hang onto him because "he was a keeper! ". She loved her kids and grandkids. She was so sweet and thoughtful and giving to everyone. Many times her family would come home to find thoughtful little "gifts" she'd bring home from the store because she thought it was something they or the grandkids would like.

She loved to go places and see the country. She was the driving force behind all the family vacations, Gerald talks so fondly and appreciatively of that fact often. Church and her faith were also very important to her.

Her children couldn't have been blessed with a better mother had they tried picking one out themselves. She was their rock, their teacher, their best friend that they've ever known. She taught them the true meaning of love and loyalty.  They lost a piece of themselves when she passed, and Gerald lost a massive chunk.  They will always love and remember her, and they look forward to meeting back up with her eventually on the other side.

She is survived by her husband, Gerald Ontjes. Her Sister, Betty Alston.  Her children, Randy Ontjes, James Ontjes, David Ontjes and Jennifer Cutler.  Her Grandchildren include, Melissa Voldberg, Aaron Ontjes, Hannah Ontjes, Chase Cutler, Brooke Cutler .  Her Great grandchildren include Jonah Ontjes, Mary Knutti, Zechariah Meyer, Camille Meyer, Sasha Meyer, Zane Klaas and Kirsten Klaas.

She is predeceased by her Parents, Edward and Freida (Pehl) Sacker; her brothers, Nathan Sacker and Kenneth Sacker; her sister Dorothea Meier.

There will be a visitation on Saturday, January 20, 2024 beginning at 10:30 am at German Valley CRC church.  A service will immediately follow at 11:30 also at the church.  Her final resting place will be at the CRC church cemetery.  Condolences can be left for the family at www.walkermortuary.com