Ottilia A. Sohn

Ottilia Sohn Obituary

Ottilia (Tillie) A. Sohn East Lansing Ottilia (Tillie) A. Sohn, age 101. Loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2010. She was born on July 13, 1908 in Fowler, Michigan to Joseph and Regina Feldpausch. Tillie worked in the family linen supply business until well into her 90's. She was one of its founding partners in 1933 and following the death of her husband, Joe Sr., in 1972, Tillie served as President of Sohn Linen Service for 22 years. She was an incredible woman who has taught all of us so much about life; appreciating life, being a great wife and mother as well as grandma. Tillie, you have been a great inspiration and role model for all of us. Tillie was an active member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and a board member of the Education Foundation. She was a long time member of the League of Catholic Women, Association of Catholic Business Women, and the Lansing Council #788 of the Knights of Columbus (K of C). Tillie and her husband, Joseph P. Sohn, were founding members of the Table Top Association of Greater Lansing. Tillie was a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing, and an avid Spartan fan. She is survived by her six children. One daughter, Karen Edly of Lansing and five sons, Ken (Marilyn) Sohn of Houghton Lake, Joe (Pam) Sohn of Okemos, Don (Mary Jo) Sohn of Woodland Park, CO, Jim (Jan) Sohn of St. Johns, and Larry (Coleen) Sohn of Aloha, OR, 21 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers, Roman Feldpausch of Fowler and James Feldpausch of Fowler, and one sister, Sr. Corinne Feldpausch of Nazareth, MI and numerous nieces and nephews. Tillie was preceded in death by Joseph P. Sohn, her husband and companion of 40 years, who were married in Fowler, MI on June 18, 1932. She was also preceded by one sister, Julia Martin, of Fowler and four brothers, Sylvester, Harold, Leo, and Louis Feldpausch of Fowler. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing with the Rev. Michael O'Brien, Parochial Vicar, officiating. The family will receive friends Friday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, with the Rosary being prayed at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to the St. Thomas Aquinas Education Foundation, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823 or the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing, 4315 Pleasant Grove Rd., Lansing, MI 48910 in memory of Tillie. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, East Lansing. Online condolences may be made at www.gorslineruncimaneastlansing.com

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Published by Lansing State Journal on Apr. 14, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Ottilia Sohn

12 Entries

Laurene Moore

April 20, 2010

On behalf of the Rosary Makers at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, we wish to convey our sincere sympathy to the Sohn family and especially to our friend and long-time rosary maker, Tillie's daughter Karen.

We unfortunately did not receive word in time to attend the services but we want Karen & the family to be assured of our love and prayers.

Tho we did not know Tillie personally, through Karen's kind words about her as well as her generosity in providing the beautiful table coverings at the Blue Army Conventions year after year that we all enjoyed and appreciated, it gave us a little insight into the special and faith-filled women she was.

May God's peace and comfort be with you all.

IHM Rosary Makers, Lansing

Linda Lynch

April 18, 2010

I will always remember chatting with Tillie when I came to Sohn Linen to work on the computers. She always spoke to me and sometimes she had questions about computers that she would ask me. It was so wonderful that she was able to continue to work in the family business where she was surrounded by so much of her family. It was always apparent that you all loved her. I know that you will miss having her here, but also know that you have many wonderful memories that will make her live on in your hearts.

Amy Peninger

April 17, 2010

Joe, Scott, Nicole and Shannon,
I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Thomas Fedewa

April 16, 2010

Dear Cousins,

The funeral of Aunt Tillie also carries with it the "end of an era"...the last of a generation of the Helena & Joseph Sohn Family. What a distinction!

All but a couple of them started out in Fowler; now their bodies will shortly be all together in Lansing's St. Joseph Cemetery - what a journey and your mom's life covered most of it as she brings it to close. Amazing!

May we all be as well kept as you cared for and kept Aunt Tillie all these years. Her many years of a healthy active life are a good example for all of us to follow. Congratulations on a job well done. She and Uncle Joe must be so proud of all of you.

Our fond memories of enjoying a WWI era Sunday afternoon chicken dinner at our Riley home with Ken, Joe, Karen and Aunt Tillie and Uncle Joe are still with us. Those were special times. Don, Jim & Larry, you guys are a bit after our boyhood years so we never connected the same way.

Uncle Joe hunted pheasants, we played inthe barn together and our mom's chatted while getting the chicken ready.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this special time of sadness and joy! What a party they all must be having; at last all together again...and this we believe with our faith that they instilled in us. May they all Rest in Peace!

Our love from our families...

Bill, Bev & Don, Linda & Dick, Bernie & Stan, Clarita & Bob, Helene & Tom, Mary & Ben Fedewa.

April 15, 2010

Tillie was always the glue behind the scenes or in the forefront that kept her family strong. She was a loving grandmother and enjoyed having lots of kids around the house. Her laughter will be missed and our memories of special times with her will always be with us. Our thoughts and prayers to the entire Sohn family for your loss.
Rick and Phyllis(Sohn)Van Vleck

April 15, 2010

While I didn't get to know Mrs. Sohn all that well ...I know Ken and Marilyn quite well ...had a lot of great times a few years back...from poker games to tennis matches and more ....The Sohn's are a wonderful family ...have missed you these past few years. Steve Baker...p.s. .hopefully I can get to visit with you on Friday.

John Sweet

April 14, 2010

Grandma you were always the light at the family gatherings, you will be missed. Our prayers are with the entire family. John and Forrest Sweet

April 14, 2010

She was an AMAZING woman. We loved her very much. She will be missed.
Michelle, Sean, Bryant and Mathew Sweet

April 14, 2010

In my own way, I feel a part of the extended Sohn family. I've had many memorable visits and share the loss of Tillie. She and Joe are together again.Sorry I can't be there to share personally. God Bless...

Larry Beren
Austin, TX

Roy & Carolyn Schrauben

April 14, 2010

Sorry to hear the sad news. Wish we could be home to express our sorrow in person. She certainly had a long and interesting life.She was a very special person.

Aurelio Velasquez

April 14, 2010

On behalf of the family of Maria R. Velasquez, we would like to express our deepest sympathy on the lost of Tillie Sohn. Tillie was a great friend and employer to our mother while working at Sohn's Linen Service for over 30 years and even after our mother retired. She will be missed.
To the family of Tillie Sohn, our heart goes out to you during these trying times.

Donald Feldpausch

April 14, 2010

We are so sorry to learn of Tillie's passing. She always had a smile for everyone. She was Don's godmother.

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