Elaine E. Sonnentag

Elaine Erna Pauline (Henrichs) Sonnentag, age 96 passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children on October 17, 2016. She was the oldest child, born in the family home in Rib Falls Township to the late Harry and Alvina (Bartelt) Henrichs, on January 27, 1920. She grew up in Little Chicago. Elaine attended LaFollette Grade School in the Town of Hamburg, the first two room elementary school in Marathon County. She graduated in 1938 from Marathon High School where she met her husband Merlin. In 1940 she graduated from Northwest Medical Technical College in Minneapolis and worked as a Medical Technician in Appleton City, Mo. On November 24, 1941 she married her high school sweetheart, Merlin J. Sonnentag in Wausau, WI. They celebrated 63 years of marriage and had nine children. Merlin preceded her in death in 2005. Merlin and Elaine started Sonnentag Concrete and Gravel business in 1946. Elaine was the family matriarch and longtime company bookkeeper. As the business grew and progressed, they renamed it County Concrete Corporation. The product line expanded and became County Materials Corp. In 1991, Merlin and Elaine were presented "The People of the Year" award by the Marathon City Business Association. Elaine's highest calling was caring for her family, being a loving and supportive mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, step-grandmother, and step great-grandmother, dependable friend to many, a tireless volunteer. She was talented in so many ways and lived out her passion by creating a loving home with her skills of cooking, canning, baking, gardening and sewing. She greatly enjoyed being involved in her children's education and organized the first meeting of the Marathon Elementary School Mothers Club in 1948, now called the PTO. She helped organize and chaired many events to fund the Village of Marathon Public Schools. Elaine and Merlin loved to dance and were members of the Marathon Square Dancing Club for 20 years along with the Central Wisconsin Polka Club. She was a member of the Hillcrest Extension Home and Community Education Club of Marathon County. Elaine was greatly involved in the 4-H Clubs and worked diligently with her children to prepare for the Wausau Fair where they presented their baked goods, canning, flower arrangements, garden produce and 4-H public speaking demonstrations. Elaine was an example of Christian faith to her family and all who knew her. She was a longtime member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Marathon where she was a member of the Ladies Aid and a charter member of both the Mission Circle and Altar Guild. She was also a winter member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Leesburg, Florida. Elaine and Merlin loved escaping to their Tavares, Florida home where they enjoyed visiting tourist attractions, entertaining out of state guests, and picking oranges from their trees. Together they had a passion for traveling and have been to 49 states, taken numerous Caribbean excursions and travel to Europe. We were blessed to have Elaine in our lives. She lived a long and healthy life. She was always very sharp and ambitious, even up until her last days. Elaine was truly a dignified lady who found joy in being with her family. She loved to celebrate life by hosting many birthday and anniversary parties and family reunions. She was many things to many people. The following qualities best describe her: gracious, compassionate, generous, effervescent, warm and a very loyal person. She was loved by all who were touched by her compassion and care. Elaine is survived by her eight children. John (Carolyn) Sonnentag, Mt. Dora, FL, Jane (Jeffrey) Cote, Eau Claire, WI; Joan (Richard) Zastrow, Bettendorf, IA; Jack (Dr. Sandra Maley) Sonnentag, Tomahawk, WI; Julie (Robert) Seubert, Tomahawk, WI; Janet (Gary) Zemski; Menomonee Falls, WI; Joyce (Glen) Hoeppner, Weston, WI; and Jill (Jerry Schroeder) Sonnentag, Mineral Wells, TX. Grandchildren include Tim (Rebecca) Sonnentag and children John, Cameron and Shane; Bill (Amanda) Sonnentag and children Chloe, Tate and Natalie; Kelly (Kristian) Hugdahl and children Riley, Alyssa and Easton; Kimberly Noonan and sons, William and Keller; Dr. Brent (Andrea) Zastrow and daughters Alexa and Brittany; Brad Zastrow; Jake (April) Sonnentag; Jenna (Josh) Winters; Amy (Jeremy) Traynor and sons Derek, Gavin, and Landon; Brian (Elizabeth) Seubert and sons Collin and Dylan; Jahna Clark and daughters Makenna and Kelsie; Matthew Zemski; Joseph Zemski; Chad (Courtney) Hoeppner and children Cole, Cambrie, Caylor; Chris (Jennifer) Hoeppner and children Kierra and Caiden; Clint (Korey) Hoeppner and son Andrew; one sister, Harriet Wanner, Wausau and sister-in-law Marie Henrichs, Fairfax, VA; Godchild Faye Mahoney, Eden Prairie, MN; three step-grandchildren, Kelly (John) Hruby and children Ali, Eli, and Erica; Dr. Jessica (Jason) Stromberg and children Scout, Beau, Braxton and Breck; Dr. Mckenzie (Thad) Krause and sons Will and Cole; and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, Merlin, she was preceded in death by one son, James; one infant grandson, Cote; three sisters, Marcella (Harvey) Drengler, Geraldine (Milton) Marth and Joann (Wilfred) Lane; one brother, Wilfred Henrich; and brother-in-law, Roger Wanner. The family thanks her caregivers Jannette Wendlant, Julie Doyle, Debra Marzynski, neighbors, Karen and Myron Totzke, and Dr. Sommers and Staff from Astia Health. Funeral Services will be at 11am on Monday October 24, 2016 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Marathon WI with Reverend Jon Hadler officiating. Burial will be in St. Matthew Cemetery in Marathon, WI. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Sunday at the church, and again on Monday from 9:30 am until time of services at the church. Memorials may be directed to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Marathon. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences maybe expresses at www.petersonkraemer.com