Obit: Sonnemann, Faith A. (1933 - 2009) 

Contact: History Buffs 

Surnames: Sonnemann, Hardrath, Waterhouse, Hatch, Hodkiewicz, Hoffman, Zehner, Krueger, Gardner

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Saturday, 11 July 2009 
 

COLBY, WIS. --- Faith A. Sonnemann, Colby, 76, a resident of the Colonial Center in Colby, passed away on June 28, 2009, after a long battle with COPD. 
 

Faith was born Jan. 18, 1933, to Johan and Violet (Kincaid) Waterhouse in Burns, Ore. Her father was a logger and as a child her family moved around to various towns in Oregon. Her family settled down in Baker City, Ore., where she received her education. 
 
 

Faith and Leland Hardrath were married March 25, 1952. She moved to Wisconsin with her husband Leland. He preceded her in death in 1959. Faith then married Lester Sonnemann on May 11, 1963. He preceded her in death in 1972. 
 

She devoted her life to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She primarily worked as a child care provider and homemaker. She loved to garden, cut grass, read, listen to country music, embroider, paint, bowl and spend time with family. She was a fan of the Colby High School's sports teams and of the Green Bay Packers. She will be remembered for her generosity and "homemade sauerkraut." She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Colby, Wis. 
 

Faith is survived by her children, Delbert (Sharon) Hardrath of Schofield, Steven (Kathy) Hardrath of Baker City, Ore., Corrine (Bernard) Hatch of Milwaukee, Dory (Scott) Combs of Seal Beach, Calif., Lorie (Timothy) Hodkiewicz of Friendship, Mary Hoffman of Abbotsford, Tina (David) Richmond of Champaign, Ill., Sarah (James) Krueger of Marshfield, Lesa (Steven) Zehner of Oshkosh and Lester (Denise) Sonnemann of Marshfield; 23 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. 
 

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Violet; her husbands, Leland and Lester; and siblings, Leland Lorange, Darlene Farley, Randall Waterhouse, Gordon Waterhouse, Duane Waterhouse and Donna Gardner. 
 

The family would like to thank the Colonial Center's staff for treating Mom like family for the past two years; and Mary Holtman and Kathy Boneske, neighbors Mom could always count on. The love you all showed Mom did not go unnoticed. 
 

A celebration of Faith's life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2009, at the United Methodist Church in Colby, Wis. The Rev. Pat Herdt will officiate. The family will receive relatives and friends Tuesday at the church in Colby from 9 a.m. until time of service. The committal services will be private and take place at a later date. 
 

In lieu of flowers, the family will be establishing a memoriam in her honor. 
 

The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home of Abbotsford is assisting Faith's family with arrangements.