Philip Tadje Sonntag

We are sorry to read about the loss of President Sonntag. My husband served on the High Council under his direction in our earlier married years. We admired and revered that man.

To President Sonntag's family, your dad was like a second father to me. I grew up in Mtn. View 2. My mom and dad were not active and your dad watched over me. I have the sweetest picture of your mom holding our first born son. He also married he and his wife. Not one without the other. I loved them both. I now have 11 grandchildren and was away being Grammy to the newest one. What an amazing man, who always spoke with power. I remember him pleading with The Lord to spare Bishop Max. I send my love and sympathy,
Barbara Williams Jones

Dear Walt and Peggy, We just heard of your Dad's passing. We know how much you loved him. What a great reunion he is having with your mom in heaven. Peggy I remember you sharing me that he said " I know the plan is true, but I just miss her so much." Now they are together again. Thank you for your testimonies of the Savior and of the Plan of Salvation. We love you and are praying for you and your family at this tender time.
Don and Robyn shelton

What a great life with the legacy of a great family. I have been so privileged to know you and wish you well at such a difficult time. The world is a better place for his life and mission. I loved him.

God bless you,

Love,

Dr Randy Rhodes

Dear Pam, Peggy and Mark,
we are saddened as we mourn the loss of your dear father but enlightened to know that he and VaLoy will be back together again. working hard.
You are blessed to be born to these two wonderful parents.
We love you all.
Our memories run deep, forever remembering our community families in the Mountain View 2nd Ward. We had the best Bishop ever and could hardly wait Sunday to Sunday to receive one of Bishop Phil's big bear hugs. He always made us feel so loved.
We have been blessed to have felt Bishop Phil's and Valoy's unconditional love. Their exception and love has and will sustain us throughout our lives.
Thank you for sharing these two wonderful people.
God bless you always,
Kay, Bonnie, Steve, Gary and Mike Neeley

I learned so much from President and Sister Sonntag.

I arrived in Christchurch with my family on a miserable foggy mid-August winter night in 1977, to direct Church Educational programs in the South Island. The motel phone rang the next morning. The American caller asked "Am I speaking to Bishop Bardia Tarppar-rarppar-ra? I replied that I was the person he was calling. "This is President Philip Sonntag, have I pronounced your name correctly?" I told him yes, he was the very first American to do so. He wanted to meet with me urgently. I eventually found the mission office and met a man who would impact my life. He reported that he had approval from Church headquarters for me to serve as a counselor on the mission presidency. One moment we were absolute strangers, and the next, life-long friends. My love and condolences to Mark and Frankie, Pam and Dean, and Peggy and Wally and all the mokopuna [grand-children]

Haere, haere, haere te rangatira, haere ki to Matua i te Rangi me to whanau tupuna. Farewell,farewell, farewell great leader. Go to be with your Father in Heaven and to your eternal companion and progenitor.

Arohanui: June and Bardia Taiapa
Hamilton. New Zealand

I learned of Presidents passing today, I would have loved to have been at his service. He was a great man and it was an honor to have been called one of his Missionaries.

What a privilege it was to have Elder & Sister Sonntag in the Canyon Road Ward. We loved their spiritual and powerful Sunday School lessons and sharing their experiences. They had such a special love for everyone around them. You could feel that love by their handshake, see it with their big smiles and twinkle in their eyes. They were such a great example to everyone. It was truly a blessing to serve as their Bishop and to know them.
Bishop Lavon & Marianne Day

Dear Sonntag Family: Words cannot adequately express my gratitude for your fathers leadership, example, teaching, wisdom, encouragement and all the other ways he and Voloy both touched my young and impressionable life in New Zealand in 1979-80. Phil was a constant example of love, leadership and good works. Phil and Voloy are together again, and belong to the eternities

Our condolences and kindest regards

I will so miss Philip. He was such a joy to serve. I send my deepest condolences to your family. It was my pleasure to have the opportunity to get to know all of you.

Phil Sonntag is one of the great and valient men of the earth for all times. Those of us who observed him and were joined in the Lord's work and attest to his character and leadership. I am blessed by our association. Bless all you who survive Phil.

I remember when President Sonntag was serving in Australia in the Area Presidency and I was working with Mike Otterson in the public Affairs Department. I put my papers in to serve a mission and President asked me one day where I wanted to go and if I wanted him to make a call for me. I said, that's ok, I'll go where The Lord calls me! Little did I know that was his test and I passed! He later told the missionaries at a conference about his offer to me and how I responded correctly! I also remember he told us if we ate an almond a day we would never get cancer, lol! I loved working with him and feeling of his wonderful spirit. Sister Sonntag was also a sweet and wonderful lady, I am blessed to have rubbed shoulders with them in my homeland many years ago.

I can't think of a more poignant thought than that of Sister Sonntag waiting at the veil as President Sonntag passed through into her waiting arms. I can hear her say, Phil...what took you so long! What great examples you have been to those of us who served under your guidance as missionaries in New Zealand. We will all be forever changed because of the example and influence both of you have had in our lives. I will never forget coming to Portland and knocking on your door and how surprised you were to see my mother and me. I will miss seeing you at the NZ reunions. But for you President, I will continue to attend. Kia Ora

I have such fond memories of "Uncle Phil" and the Sonntag family. I still remember water skiing on Lake Mead. So sorry for your loss. He left a wonderful legacy. So glad he was able to perform the sealing for my Daughter, Heather Hales.

Oh how I love President and Sister Sonntag. They have taught by example how to love, how to serve, how to laugh and how to put the Savior first. I will always be grateful for them. And I will always love them. I am grateful to know they are reunited. What a happy moment that must have been.

Washington DC South Mission

Thank you Phil for your unwavering example, your beautiful friendship, and the wonderful moments we have shared together, and your love we feel. Together again, and home at last.

I probably interacted with Brother, Mr. Phil Sonntag less than 50 times in my lifetime, yet he is one of the most respected and personal favorite men I have known. Dean and Pam, and the rest of the Sonntag family find comfort, be proud, and treasure the memories of a truly outstanding man.

Stan and Sheree

My husband, Dean, always admired the Sontag family as he got to know them from working next door in the candy shop for awhile. He considered all of you his friends. Enjoyed the jewelry store, too. Best wishes to you.

Dear Sonntag Family,

With sadness we send our love at this tender time.

Anyone who grew up in the Hillside Stake, not only knew of Phil and Voloy but they also felt of their love.

At a youthful and pliable time in my life Phil seemed to lift and inspire me. He spoke at my missionary farewell, and blessed my life as a leader and friend. His interest in others, a paramount virtue, was manifest throughout my adult years. With Peggy and Walt and Pam and Dean as neighbors the Sonntags continued their influence upon my family, with their frequent visits to the Ward.

I can't help but feel that Phil's bear hugs and literal holds on me, subconsciously even affected my career in jewelry.

We love you dear friends, and are sorry not to be at the services. May you continue to carry the legacy of a GREAT MAN!

President and Sister Sonntag helped shape my entire life. They had such a powerful influence on all of us missionaries. I have quoted them in my church callings for many years the things we learned from them. President and Sister Sonntag - We love you.

President and Sister Sonntag were such a great example to me when I grew up in the Hillside Stake. They always made me feel loved and appreciated. I also know my father and mother loved their long friendship with the Sonntags. What a great, happy, positive man he was!

I am so grateful for the influence that President Sonntag had in my life. I will never forget the first time I met him after he arrived in New Zealand. I was uncertain about the"New" mission president. Those fears were quickly put to rest when this giant of a man gave me a hug and told me that he loved me. What a great man. So glad that he was a part of my life.
Jerry Davis
NZ Christchurch mission 76-78

Thank you for living such a wonderful life and for your example. You will be missed here on earth, but know we will meet again. One of your grateful missionaries,

With deepest sympathy.

President Sonntqg was a wonderful example to me while I was a missionary and to my family since my mission. I have always looked up to him and his example since serving in New Zealand. As I have served in the Church I have thought on many occasions "What would President Sonntag do?" My thought was always do what is right and love those I serve with. We have been blessed to have the Sonntags in our home to share time with our family. We have enjoyed our visits with President and Sister Sonntag through the years as he has loved us and taught us.

We are truly sorry that we will not be able to attend his service and pay tribute to a true servant of the Savior.

President Carl and Nancy Swenson
Payson Utah

I remember, as a young child, visiting "Uncle Phil" with my family as he served as mission president in New Zealand - what a great host he was. He was always very supportive of my widowed grandmother (Mary Tadje), I had a nice visit with Phil at her funeral last year. What a great example he was to all.

What an honor to have known and served under President and Sister Sonntag in New Zealand. It has been a blessing in my life I cherish daily.

It was also an honor to have him show up unannounced as the sealer for my daughter when she was married in the Salt Lake Temple. We will always hold a special place for President and Sister Sonntag in our hearts.

Pres Sonntag was my Mission President in New Zealand. A great man, with a great companion who always looked after us. For two years he was like my Dad and I still feel his influence now as a member of the Church. Hope to meet him and Sis Sonntag again - but not yet. Love from the Morgans in Wales, UK.

Dear Sonntag Family,
We were so sorry to hear of the passing of Phil, he was a great friend to the Fritsch family for many years. Many family members have purchased jewelry from the store over the years. May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together. Take comfort in knowing that you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.
Alan & Linda(Fritsch)Bain

Dear Peggy and Pam, We were so sorry to hear of your dad's death - he was a wonderful man. You are in our thoughts and prayers, Love, Dick, Valerie and Amy Lambert

He was a great man who I loved dearly. He baptized and confirmed me. He will be greatly missed. Prayers are with you all

Mark, Frankie and the Sonntag family,

My father owned a jewelry store until 1957. I remember visiting Philip and Company a few times as a young boy and feeling a good spirit as we purchased from Phil. I always enjoyed going back with my father. Years later, my wife and I purchased a beautiful wedding ring from Mark. Mark carried the same spirit his father had not only in the store, but in Ireland as well. My family and I send our condolences. May the love and support of family, friends and our Father in Heaven be with you at this time.

President Sonntag has had an incredible influence on my life over the many years. I love him, his wife Valoy and his family. I have been blessed in my life to have known such a wonderful man and his family.
Love,
Jean Campbell
Dallas, TX Mission

May you rejoice in his life and his love for you.

President and Sister Sonntag have been a shining light in a world of darkness. He never missed an opportunity to bear his testimony and to wrap his arms around you and express his love for you. He has truly been an example of faith and courage that I have relied on throughout my adult life. We are happy that he and Valoy are together again, but he will be missed.

as one of his missionary sons I have many wonderful memories of president and sister sonntag, my heart and prayers goes out to their family at this time