SONNENBERG, Lena 1906-1951

SONNENBERG, VENENGA, STOEHR

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/11/2015 at 06:43:27

Mrs. C. Sonnenberg Dies In Hospital

Mrs. C. B. Sonnenberg died at 6:30 Monday morning at the Allen Memorial hospital at Waterloo. Ten days before she submitted to an operation at the hospital for the removal of the gall bladder. It was impossible to get the liver to functioning properly and the patient continued to get weaker until the end came. She had not been in good health for several months. She was 43 years old Oct. 28 of last year.

Mrs. Sonnenberg's death saddened the entire community and undivided sympathy goes to the bereaved members of her family and other relatives. She had spent nearly all of her life here and all who knew her were her friends.

She was a willing helper in all worthy community activities and was always ready to extend a helping hand to those who were in need. She took a very sincere interest in her church work and was a regular attendant. The entire community will feel and mourn her loss. "She will be a beautiful flower in the Master's bouquet."

Mrs. Sonnenberg's maiden name was Lena Venenga. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. U. Venenga. Except for a short time that the family lived at Hampton her entire life was spent here. She attended school in Holland and later high school at Grundy Center from which she graduated in 1924. She taught school in Grundy county for five years. On March 6, 1929, Lena Venenga and Christ Sonnenberg were married. They started housekeeping at once here and for several years lived in the apartment over the store during the time the Sonnenbergs owned and managed the store. Later they built a modern home in which they have since been living.

Surviving are the husband, two sons, Benjamin and Delbert, and one daughter, Helen. There is one grandchild. Other surviving relatives are four brothers and two sisters. The brothers are Bert and Will, Hampton; John and Ben from here. The sisters are Mrs. Charles Toomsen and Mrs. Etta Brower.

Services will be held at one o'clock Thursday at the Sonnenberg home and later at the Colfax Presbyterian church. Rev. George Swalve will officiate at the service. Burial will be in the Colfax church cemetery. Casketbearers will be nephews.

Business Suspended During Funeral Services
All places of business will be closed during the funeral services this afternoon.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 March 1951, pg 11

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700 At Last Rites Thursday for Mrs. C. B. Sonnenberg

Last rites for Mrs. C. B. Sonnenberg were held Thursday afternoon at the Colfax Presbyterian church. Every vacant space in the large church auditorium was occupied during the service. It was estimated that from 700 to 800 people were at the service in the church in which she had been an active member for many years and a Sunday School teacher. The service was conducted by the resident pastor, Rev. George Swalve. Burial was in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Nephews of Mrs. Sonnenberg were casketbearers. They were George Werkman, Warren Anderson, Edward Kline, Ben Venenga, and Wilbur and Duane Toomsen.

Music was by Alvin and Don Smit, Sam Rust and Elmer Dieken. Mae Engelkes was accompanist.

Flowers were in charge of Mrs. Albert Meyer, Mrs. Sam Rust, Mrs. Troy Anderson and Miss Winnie Werkman.

The county road maintainer had used its services early in the day to open the road to the church from all directions and to remove the snow from the highway near the church to make room for the large number of cars to park. Many relatives from a distance who had intended to come or who were on their way to the funeral service were stalled by closed roads.

Obituary
The following obituary of Mrs. Sonnenberg was read at the service by the pastor:

Lena Hermine Sonnenberg, daughter of B. U. Venenga and Lena nee Stoehr, was born Oct. 28, 1906, in Palermo twp., Grundy county. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Holland and later joined the Colfax Presbyterian church, March 7, 1940.

At the age of 2 years the family moved to Franklin county. In 1920 they moved back to Holland. She graduated from Grundy Center high school with the Class of 1924 and taught school five terms.

She was united in marriage to Chris Sonnenberg on March 6th, 1929, at the home of her parents by Rev. O. G. Poppen, uncle of the groom. They spent their entire married life in this community. The couple were blessed with three children: Benjamin Harold, Helen Alberta, and Delbert Dale, and one grandchild, David Benjamin.

Other surviving relatives are 4 brothers and two sisters: Willie Venenga, Hampton; Tillie, Mrs. Charlie Toomsen, Holland; Etta, Mrs. Edd Brower, Holland; Bert Venenga, Hampton; John Venenga, Holland; Ben Venenga, Grundy Center. She was preceded in death by her parents.

There's an open gate
At the end of the road
Through which each must go alone,
And there is a light we cannot see
Our Father claims His own.
Beyond the gate your loved one
Finds happiness and rest;
And there is comfort
In the thought
That a loving God knows best.

God is our refuge and strength,
A present help in sorrow.
Lean on His breast--and trust in Him,
"Try fortress," for tomorrow.

God is thy strength--Oh, that is true,
In lonesome hours He will strengthen you,
When days are dark--and faith grows dim
He will bear your burden--His light shines in.

A present help in trouble, too,
A blessed promise--old but ever now.
So lean hard on Him who died to save.
Reunion on high - an empty grave.

Weep not then for loved ones,
Tho grief your hearts torn deep
God doeth all things well,
He giveth his beloved sleep.

--Based on Psalm 46:1

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 March 1951, pg 9