Sonntag, Donald Joseph (1940 - 2024)

SONNTAG, MEINECKE, SHRYOCK, QUIST, BUMP, NORMAN, KETTELKAMP, COMES, MICHEALS, NIEDZIELSKI, FREUND

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 11/12/2024 at 19:07:45

Name of deceased: Donald Joseph Sonntag

Aged: 84 yrs, 10 mo, 2 days

Residence: Atlantic, IA

Born: Jan. 9, 1940; Panama, Shelby County, IA

Died: Oct. 11, 2024; Heritage House Senior Living, Atlantic, Cass County, IA

Funeral services: Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024; St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Atlantic, IA; burial will follow at the St. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, Atlantic, IA

Survived by: Wife of 65 years, Lois Sonntag, of Atlantic, IA; children, Glen (spouse, Deb) Sonntag of Atlantic, IA, Gary (spouse, Rachelle) Sonntag of Urbandale, IA, Michelle (spouse, George) Meinecke of Cumming, IA, and Julie (spouse, Mark) Shryock of Johnston, IA; grandchildren, Erik (spouse, Katrina) Sonntag, Anne (spouse, Kyle) Quist, Adam (spouse, Lisa) Sonntag, Austin (spouse, Laena) Sonntag, Hillary (spouse, Dan) Bump, Tyler (spouse, Amy) Sonntag, Jordan (spouse, Julia) Sonntag, Kevin (spouse, Tori Norman) Meinecke, Katie (spouse, Josh) Kettelkamp, Nick (spouse, Jess) Comes and Nate (spouse, Dakotah) Comes; 22 great-grandchildren; brother, Marv Sonntag of Brayton, IA; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Leo and Isabelle (nee Micheals) Sonntag; brothers, Richard, Gerald and David; sister, Ellen Niedzielski

Education: Graduated from the Panama High School, Panama, IA

Religious affiliation: Active member of Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Defiance, IA, and was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus.

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Lois Freund; Aug. 8, 1958; Earling, IA

Employment: Managed the Green Bay Lumber Company, Atlantic, IA, and then eventually managed the Atlantic Lumber Company. He was later employed at Henningsen Construction selling steel buildings; he was not afraid to work and often worked more than one job at a time. Don began building houses during this time and was a vital figure in housing and business development in and around Atlantic; he eventually founded Sonntag Incorporated, building numerous homes and condominiums in Atlantic and in the surrounding communities. Don was one of the founding members of Atlantic Community Development, helping with the development of the East Business Park, now home to Ziegler CAT and other businesses, and industrial development on the west side of Atlantic, including the ethanol plant site and Atlas Crane.

Hobbies/Interests: Was a member and supporter of numerous committees promoting progress in and around the city of Atlantic, including CADCO, the Rotary Club, and Cass County Democrats; was also a member of the Cass County Ag and Ed Association, being a key member to the construction of the Cass County Community Center. Don was a big supporter of the YMCA, Atlantic Community School District, and Iowa Western Community College. He enjoyed supporting his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their sporting events, school, and social activities.

Sources: schmidtfamilyfh.com; ancestry.com, U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019