EDWARD JOHANNES SONNICHSEN

Edward Johannes Sonnichsen was born August 3, 1918, the son of Andreas and Emma Rahn Sonnichsen. He died Saturday, November 3, 2007 at the Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa at the age of eighty-nine.

Edward was born on a farm in Hanover Township, near Denison, Iowa. He was baptized October 6, 1918 at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison and later confirmed there on April 9, 1933. He received his education at the Hanover No 7 School. After completing his education he helped on the family farm.

On December 17, 1939, Edward was united in marriage to Esther Wessel at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Dow City, Iowa. The couple made their home on the family farm and were blessed with the birth of three children. Along with farming Edward was an independent trucker. In the spring of 1971 they moved to Denison, where Edward worked at Aulds Green House and Schenkelberg Implement.

Edward was a life long member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who enjoyed family birthday parties and the many phone calls from family. His passion was farming but his pastimes were dancing, fishing and camping at Little Spirit Lake, Minnesota and woodworking, especially making birdhouses.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Walter and one sister, Edna Carnes. Survivors include his wife, Esther of Denison; two sons, Dennis Sonnichsen and his wife, Diane of Deloit; Donavon Sonnichsen and his wife, Donna of Denison; one daughter, Karen Fletcher and her husband, Bob of Newell; eight grandchildren: Penny Sonnichsen, Sally Abbe and her husband, Terry, Kandy Bremser and her husband, Mike, Tonya Eller and her husband, Chris, Ryan Sonnichsen and his wife, Kelly, Clayton Fletcher and his wife, Susan, Matt Fletcher and his wife, Carol and Chelsy Sonnichsen; fourteen great-grandchildren, Alexander and Ashton Abbe, Kamalha Sonnichsen, Iniki Bremser, Miles, Carlee and Olivia Fletcher, Sam, Ian and Joe Fletcher, Amanda, Austin and Parker Eller, Sophie Sonnichsen; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, DeLoris Sonnichsen of Denison; Delmar Wessel and his wife, Gladys of Denison; Lorraine Wessel of Ida Grove; Lila Kline and her husband, Don of Schleswig; Helen Olson of Deloit; Leva Schumacher of Battle Creek; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, November 8, 2007 at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. Rev. Kurt Kaiser and Rev. David Sewing officiated the services and grave side rites held at Oakland Cemetery in Denison. Organist Karen Kahl provided accompaniment for soloist Larry Boeck as he sang "On Eagle's Wings," and for the congregational hymns "Jesus Loves Me," and "What A Friend We Have in Jesus." Those serving as Honorary Pallbearers were Sally Sonnichsen Abbe, Penny Sonnichsen, Tonya Eller, Chelsy Sonnichsen, and Kandy Bremser. Those serving as Pallbearers were Ryan Sonnichsen, Mike Bremser, Terry Abbe, Alexander Abbe, Clayton Fletcher, Matt Fletcher, and Chris Eller. The family invited everyone in attendance to join them for fellowship and lunch served by the Ladies Aid. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of the arrangements.