Leone Hoenk

Leone "Oney" Hoenk, 98 of Rochester, died peacefully at Arbor Terrace on Sunday January 4, 2026.

Leone Esther Dickerman was born on July 21, 1927 in Rochester, MN to Robert and Florence Dickerman. She attended a 1-room school house in rural Elgin for primary school. This is where she met the man who would become her husband, Kenneth (Ken) Hoenk. She always told the story that she knew she wanted to marry him ever since 2nd grade. She attended Elgin High School and graduated in 1945. She then attended Winona Business College and worked in the admissions office at St. Mary's Hospital. She went on to study at Winona Vocational Technical School and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at the age of 35, working at the Winona Community Memorial Hospital in the Obstetrics department and later the Spring Valley nursing home. In retirement, Oney volunteered more than 3,600 hours at Mayo Clinic. She always took great pride in her work, whether it was registering patients, helping deliver babies, or giving patients directions from the Eisenberg subway information desk.

Leone married Kenneth (Ken) Hoenk at the Lutheran church in Elgin, MN on September 5, 1948. Oney and Ken were blessed with three children, Dale, Carol, and Susan (Sue).

Throughout her life, she enjoyed traveling, camping, playing cards, having lunch with friends, and attending her kids' and grandkids' various events. In her later years, she enjoyed many bus trips and traveled all over the U.S. and abroad. After moving to Arbor Terrace she especially enjoyed bird watching, playing bingo,"bike rides", and car rides.

She is preceded in death by: her parents Robert and Florence, her husband Ken, son Dale and his wife Bev, brother Tom Dickerman and his wife Jean, sister Ruth Bierbaum and her husband Clarence, sister-in-law Darlene Wehrs and her husband Larry, brother-in-law Bob Hoenk and his wife Bonnie, and brother-in-law Dave Hoenk.

Leone is survived by children, Carol (Craig) Van Oort, Susan (Richard) Holland, grandchildren Cory (Melissa) Van Oort, Keri (Sam) Cada, Matt (Reegan) Hoenk, Chelsie Van Oort, Megan and Jocelyn Holland, great grandchildren Callie and Kenley Cada and Peyton and Griffin Hoenk, brother Dave (Betty) Dickerman of Estero, Florida, and sister-in-law Glenda Hoenk.

A funeral service will be held at 11am, on Friday January 9, 2026, at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN with Pastor Tim Rotman officiating. Visitation will be held an hour before the service. The funeral will be live-streamed via the church website. Burial will be at the Elgin Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to Arbor Terrace. The family would like to thank all the staff at Arbor Terrace for taking such great care of Oney and making it feel like home by treating her like a member of their own family.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Hoenk family.