Fourth Generation

172. Robert Elmer "Bob" SONNENBURG Sr. was born on 10 March 1949 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.^10,51 He graduated in 1967 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵¹ from Tomah High School. Between 1987 and 2008 he was a funeral home director in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵¹ Bob died on 10 March 2008 at the age of 59 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵¹

Obituary Notes: "Robert Elmer Sonnenburg Sr., 59, of Tomah, WI, died March 10, 2008, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 10, 1949, to Elmer and Ruth (Ludeking) Sonnenburg at Sparta. He was baptized March 27, 1949, and confirmed May 5, 1963, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church. He attended St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran School and was a member of the Tomah High School graduating class of 1967. He was united in marriage to Rosemary Mannion at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church on Nov. 27, 1971, by Pastor O.W. Heier. She preceded him in death Sept. 26, 2002. He worked for the Milwaukee Railroad before deciding to attend Mortuary Science School. He moved his family to Villa Park, IL, where he worked as a janitor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and attended the Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science Sept. 5, 1978. He first worked for the Ahlgrim Funeral Home in Palatine, IL. He then moved to Milwaukee to work for the Franzen-Jung-Kaufmann-Weiand Funeral Home. From there they moved to Elroy, where he worked for the Zenner Funeral Home. He moved his family back to Tomah and took over the CBRF for Veterans that his parents started, and also was working as an over the road salesman for the Champion Company. In 1986 he, his father, a couple brothers-in-law and a few friends started construction on the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home. It opened in 1987, and for the last 21 years he had been the owner and operator. He was united in marriage to Brenda Chapman on Aug. 16, 2003, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Donald R. Buch, and proceeded to dance through life. They taught ballroom dance class together at the Marilyn School of Dance in Tomah. He was a member of USADance, Continental Dance Club, River City Ballroom Club and the Senate Dance Club.

A faithful lifetime member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, he served on the church council and was past president of the congregation. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. He was a member of Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post #201, Curtiss-McNutt VFW Post #1382, and the La Societe’Des 40 Hommes Et 8 Voiture 804. He was a member of the Tomah Lions Club. He enjoyed hunting, especially the elk hunting trips to Colorado. Most important to him were his wife and family. He was an especially proud “papa,” a devoted husband, a loving father, brother, and uncle.

He is survived by his loving wife Brenda of Tomah; six children, Dr. Robert (Patricia Lynn) Sonnenburg of Peshtigo, Patricia Grace (William) Mills of La Crosse, Joshua Sonnenburg of Tomah, Rebecca Sonnenburg of La Crosse, Ethan and Andrew Chapman of Milwaukee; four fabulous grandchildren, Maxwell, Emma Rose, Clare Eleanore and Sophia Grace Sonnenburg, all of Peshtigo; six sisters, Dorla (Miles) Guthrie of Tomah, Betty Jean Phillips of Hartford, Carolyn (Rick) Abel of Sullivan, Lonna Mae Gamerdinger and Patricia Ann (Patrick) Graham, all of Tomah, and Merece (Thomas) Mueller of Milwaukee; an uncle, Kenneth (Donna) Ludeking of Middleton; a sister-in-law, Angie (Gary) Moseley of Tomah, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his first wife Rosemary, he was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Ruth, an infant sister Grace, an infant bother Mark, four aunts Bernice Deitelhoff, Irma Krause, Helen Peth and Lucille Betcher, and uncle Marvin Sonnenburg.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 15, at 11 a.m at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Tomah.

Pastor Donald R. Buch and Curt S. Backhaus will officiate. Burial will be in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Wilton with military honors by the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post 201."

Robert Elmer "Bob" SONNENBURG Sr. and Rosemary Patricia MANNION were married on 27 November 1971 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵¹ Rosemary Patricia MANNION, daughter of William Martin MANNION and Margaret Patricia GRACE, was born on 13 November 1952 in Milton, Norfolk County, MA.⁵¹ She died on 26 September 2002 at the age of 49 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵¹ She was buried on 30 September 2002 in Wilton, Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵¹ in the St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Robert Elmer "Bob" SONNENBURG Sr. and Rosemary Patricia MANNION had the following children:

Robert Elmer "Bob" SONNENBURG Sr. and Brenda OLSON were married on 16 August 2003 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^51,183 Brenda OLSON was born (date unknown).