Samuel Sonntag

Our beloved son, Samuel Stoker Sonntag, passed peacefully from this life into the next surrounded by his family. He went home to a joyous heavenly reunion on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Sammy was born on February 2, 1998, to Erik and Karen Sonntag, the first of six children. One of Sammy's greatest gifts was to love people and stay positive in spite of all the challenges he faced. Sammy was born with hydrocephalus, which caused severe limitations in his mental and physical development but also blessed him and his family in ways that can't be measured. Sammy is our multi-miracle boy. When he was 15 months old, we nearly lost him because of a bowel infection. This resulted in his bowels being externalized for nearly a month. Our family's faith grew when the fasting and prayers of our ward and family miraculously brought him back from the brink of death. Most recently, Sammy battled multiple respiratory infections. Again, through the fasting and prayers of others, his life was extended. That extra time we had with Sammy is a cherished blessing. With grace, courage, patience, and a sense of humor, Sammy endured many struggles and numerous doctor and therapy appointments, surgeries, and hospitalizations making many friends along the way.
Sammy was the happiest boy that our family has ever known. Even when he was feeling lousy, he could find something to laugh and smile about. His laugh was contagious and he taught everyone around him how to laugh, especially when someone made a mistake or things didn't go as planned. He showed us by example, how to live a resilient, joyous life, regardless of circumstances. Sammy was a great example of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's motto, "Come what may and love it". Throughout his life, he loved attending Church and Seminary so he could "sing", lead the music, and worship our Savior, Jesus Christ. He especially loved the Sacrament, during which he would happily let everyone know how excited he was to see the emblems of our Lord passed to the congregation.
Sammy could light up a room with his smile and sense of humor. He always had a smile for a friend, and everyone he met was a friend. He loved to wave to people and his specialty was giving squeezy hugs. Sammy learned how to say two words, Mama and Emma, who were two of his favorite people. He looked forward to his nightly routine of calling to his Mom so he could surprise her with different silly glasses and give her a squeezy hug (and sometimes an especially juicy kiss). From the time Sammy was little, he loved looking at pictures and videos. He wore out many gospel art picture sets, family photo books, and scripture readers as he looked through them, listened to us talk about them, and loved them. We noticed how at a young age, whenever he saw a picture of Jesus, he would give it a juicy kiss. One of his favorite scripture stories was Lehi and the Liahona. He was and is one of our family's "Liahonas", pointing us closer to Jesus Christ.
Sammy loved being a tease, doing things like emptying out drawers, knocking over chairs, and swiping your phone whenever he could, just so he could laugh with you when you discovered what he had done. We often said, "Swiper, no swiping". Sammy wanted to be included in everything, he was one of Mom's and Dad's best helpers. He loved cooking, vacuuming, wiping off the table, and doing laundry. Some of his favorite things to do were snuggling with his siblings, going places in the van (holding all the extra seat belts), wearing silly glasses and hats, watching home videos, looking at pictures, and "supervising" to make sure things were in order. He was always excited to call and talk to people on the phone, especially his Grandmas and Grandpas. He also loved Barney, because Barney is all about loving and music. Sammy loved his iPad and would often be found taking videos, pictures, and playing his movies on it. One of his favorite things to do was to give (sometimes blast) "devotionals" of the Tabernacle Choir and General Conference wherever he went - Bear O Care (his day program), the store, the hospital, and doctor's appointments. It was an easy way to get their attention and share his testimony with others. He was "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ". Although Sammy did not speak with words, his joyful and loving nature, courage and example of pure goodness profoundly influenced those around him.
Sammy was blessed to have so many people help him learn and progress throughout his life. It started with Early Intervention programs, preschool, and weekly therapy through Primary Children's Medical Center. He attended Jordan Valley School and then Kauri Sue Hamilton School. He loved his time at school and made many lifelong and beloved friends. Summer time was also fun. With the help of amazing respite workers, Sammy would have "school" at home, ride trikes, go on walks and field trips, work on task boxes, and play games. After graduation, Sammy attended Bear O Care, which he also loved. There have been so many amazing people that helped and taught Sammy throughout his life. We are so grateful for the many friends, teachers, therapists, medical providers, and caregivers who blessed Sammy's life.
In December of 2019, he contracted pneumonia, which severely damaged his lungs. He struggled with pneumonia and bronchiectasis which he eventually conquered by leaving his body behind and rising into the eternal world, to be met by his many faithful family members on the other side. Sammy is now serving the mission that he couldn't serve while in this life. His passing leaves a huge hole in our hearts, which is slowly being filled by the hope and joy we feel knowing that Families Are Forever. We are standing on the promises of God!
Sammy has many people who will miss him, including his parents Erik and Karen, siblings Timmy, Emma, Joseph, and Livvy, his Grandpa and Grandma Delaney, Grandpa Sonntag, many aunts, uncles, and cousins, ward families, Bear O Care family, Kauri Sue Hamilton family, Jordan Valley family, medical teams, caregivers, Sara Brozovsky (Support Coordinator), and his long time teacher and special buddy, Beau Burningham. He is now reunited with his Grandma Sonntag and baby brother Jakey. Through God's miraculous grace and Sammy's determination to fight, we rejoice that we had 27 years with our sweet Sammy. With Paul, Sammy can say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
Sammy's life will be celebrated at 12:00 pm on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the Bluffdale 15th Ward, located at 14650 South 3200 West in Bluffdale, Utah. A viewing will be held at the church the night before from 6 - 8 pm, and from 11:00 - 11:45 am, the day of the funeral. In honor of Sammy, please wear something red, his favorite color. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial, 3401 S. Highland Drive, directly after the funeral.