SONNENBERG, Ben 1877-1949

SONNENBERG, POPPEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/24/2016 at 19:56:35

Last Rites For Ben Sonnenberg

Last rites for Ben Sonnenberg former merchant at Holland, were held in the Christian Reformed church at Holland on Memorial Day. There was a very large attendance at the church service. Relatives from a distance who were here for the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Warner Beenken and Orville, Herbert Beenken, of Bancroft; Mr. and Mrs. Chris Sonnenberg, Buffalo Center; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Sonnenberg, Mrs. Grady Smith, Mrs. Gladys Marchand, Miss Gertie Sonnenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Warner Beenken, John Ashe, Herman Tjarks, all of Titonka; Rev. and Mrs. O. G. Poppen, of Belmond; Rev. Henry Poppen, of Ackley; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Kroemer and Charlene; Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Luchtenburg and Kenneth, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Sinke, Jean and Stanley, Kalamazoo, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Kessler and Jerry, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Kessler, Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Witte, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kalkwarf, Parkersburg, Mr. and Mrs. Steno Jungling, Mrs. Jurgen Reents, Aplignton, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bruns, Greene; Ben Franzen, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Franzen, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Franzen, Titonka; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Limburg and Elton, Woden.

Obituary
Ben Sonnenberg was born June 1, 1877, in Colfax township, Grundy county, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Sonnenberg. He spent all his life in the immediate vicinity of Holland. On Feb. 25, 1904, he was married to Annie Poppen. They farmed just a few miles north of Holland until 1912 when they moved to Holland where they operated a general merchandise store until 1931, when they retired and continued to live in Holland.

Mrs. Sonnenberg passed away Nov. 28, 1947. Since the loss of his wife, Mr. Sonnenberg's health gradually failed. He spent the last two weeks of March, 1949, at Rochester, Minn., where he received treatment for hardening of the arteries. His health had apparently improved as a result of this treatment, so that he could return home on April 2nd. But that very night a heart attack laid him low and since that time he gradually declined in strength. He was bedfast for 7 1/2 weeks. He suffered as a patient child of God, and his vitality amazed even the doctors who attended him. Early in the morning of May 26 the Lord released this servant of His and took him to glory. It was fitting that his release should come on Ascension Day. Had he lived 6 more days, he would have been 72 years old.

Mr. Sonnenberg was a loyal member of the Holland Christian Reformed church the past five years. Previously he had been a member of the Colfax Presbyterian church. He served the Christian Reformed church faithfully as an elder since January 1947 and was a member of the consistory at the time of his death. His Christian testimony and conduct were known to all who knew him. Many times he quietly admonished members of the church. He never refused an opportunity to be of service to the church and community when asked to do so. He will be missed greatly in the church, as well as outside of it.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 June 1949, sec 2, pg 1