Surnames: Sowieja, Denk, Bruss, Klotz, Wegner, Schofield, Birkett, Zuehlke, Gregorich, Brown

----Source: Loyal TRG 21 May 2008

Sowieja, Lonni J. #2 (13 AUG 1954 - 15 MAY 2008)

Lonni J. Sowieja, 53, died on Thursday, May 15, 2008, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson Hospice Care Center in Fitchburg, following a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, May 20, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Monona. The Rev. John Mienholtz officiated. Burial was in Highland Memory Gardens, Madison.

Lonni J, Denk was born on Aug. 13, 1954, in Eau Claire, to William and Marcia (nee Bruss) Denk. She graduated from Greenwood High School in 1972. Following her graduation from Patricia Stevens College in Milwaukee in 1973, she moved to Madison and began her 35-year career working for the State of Wisconsin Legislature. She married her loving husband of 31 years, Gene Sowieja on Aug. 7, 1976, in Greenwood, and together they had three wonderful daughters. She loved gardening, singing, and was an avid Badger and packer fan. But most of her enjoyment came from spending time with her family. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary and their church choir.

Survivors include her husband, Gene Sowieja; daughters, Tamra (Bryon Klotz) Sowieja, Janesville, Kari (Chad Wegner) Sowieja, Cambridge, and Kelsy Sowieja, Monona; her pride and joy, granddaughter, Taylor; her parents, William and Marcia Denk, Greenwood; six brothers, Brian (Julie) Denk, Greenwood, Lorin (Kayla) Denk, Schofield, Dan (Michelle) Denk, Stoughton, Doug (Kris) Schofield, David Denk, Greenwood, and Riley (Kristy) Denk, Monona; four sisters, Cindy Birkett, Monona, Susan (Paul) Denk-Zuehlke, Madison, Jill (Fred) Gregorich, Willard, and Nancy (Ric) Denk-Brown, Fitchburg; and many, many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceding her in death were her maternal grandparents, Franchescha and August Bruss; paternal grandparents, William and Mary Denk; and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Eugene and Josephine Sowieja.

All Faiths Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Madison, assisted the family with arrangements.