Sonja Lynn Fenner

Sonja Lynn Fenner, 56, of Gilman, died on Friday, July 14, 2017, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Gilman Community-United Church of Christ. A private family interment will be held at the Prairie View Cemetery in Gilman. A gathering will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. following the memorial service in the city lot, 124 North Main Street in Gilman. Should friends desire, memorials in Sonja's name may be directed to the Gilman First Responders and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Sonja was born on December 12, 1960, in Logan, West Virginia to Clettis and Helen Rogers Fenner. She moved to Gilman Iowa from Forest Park, Illinois in 2002 and developed a long term relationship with Mark Stubbs. Sonja and Mark enjoyed life together and she became a friend to many people. She especially enjoyed her dogs and her recent pet dog, "Suzie", was a loyal companion. Sonja was afflicted by juvenile diabetes during her life but she didn't let the disease define her. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, baking and trips to the casino. Survivors include her companion, Mark Stubbs of Gilman; her mother, Helen Reed of Iowa and Illinois; her two sisters, Debbie Chandler of Charleston, West Virginia and Yolanda (Jim) Heng of Grinnell; and three brothers, Rex (Teresa) Fenner of Naperville, Illinois, Rock (Dawn) Fenner and Steven (Dorraine) Fenner, both of Bolingbrook, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her father.