Service WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2006, 10:30 AM
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, MANNING, IOWA
Officiating REVEREND PATRICK R. SPARLING REVEREND DANIEL VOGEL
Music "I'M BUT A STRANGER HERE" "I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES" CONGREGATION
"HOW GREAT THOU ART" HEIDI ALLEN, VOCALIST
FERN JENSEN, ORGANIST
Interment MANNING CEMETERY, MANNING, IOWA
Casketbearers ROBERT HAACK, LYLE KARSTEN, KEITH SCHROEDER, RON SCHILLING, LEROY ALBERTSEN, ORLAND FARA
Honorary Casketbearers ALAN FARA, NATE FARA, NICK FARA, GORDON SCHMARZO, HENRY SONKSEN, BILL OPPERMAN, ALAN VENNINK, ROBERT WEGNER, ERVIN BAUER

THE FAMILY WISHES TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR KINDNESS EVIDENCED IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED, AND INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR LUNCH AND FELLOWSHIP AT THE CHURCH FOLLOWING THE COMMITTAL SERVICE.
OHDE FUNERAI HOME MANNING, IOWA, IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS

Joe Sonksen
Joe John, son of John and Minnie (Steen) Sonksen, was born March 14, 1908, three miles south of Manning in Audubon County, Iowa. He was baptized into the Lutheran Faith on May 31, 1908. Joe moved with his family into Manning when he was five years old and attended Manning schools. On May 15, 1924, he was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning.

After completing his education, Joe started working at Priebe and Sons Hatchery in Manning. Since he was involved in drying eggs, he was exempt from the military service.

On September 9, 1929, Joe was united in marriage with Edna Karsten at the Lutheran Parsonage in Manning. They made their home in Manning and were the parents of a daughter. They also helped raise their grandson later in their lives. Joe worked for Priebe and Sons for 33 years and then worked as the manager at Pacific Adhesive Co. in Manning until 1962 when he was transferred to Sioux City, retiring in 1972. They returned to Manning in 1977.

Joe was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He participated in the activities at the Manning Senior Center and was a loyal volunteer there. As early as 1929, Joe and Edna delighted many children over the years as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

Joe and Edna became residents of the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in Manning in the summer of 2002, shortly before Edna's death on August 23, 2002. Joe died on Saturday, April 22, 2006, at the age of 98 years, 1 month and 8 days.

Besides his parents and wife, Joe was preceded in death by a daughter Barbara Rundell; a stillborn infant; sister Melinda Bornhoft; and brothers Walter Sonksen and Arnold Sonksen and wife Gladys.

He is survived by his grandson David Joe Rundell and wife Tara of Sultan, Washington; a great grandson Connor Rundell; sisters-in-law: Madge Sonksen of Panora; Florence Schroeder of Elk Horn and Florence Karsten and Elaine Struve of Manning; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.