Obituary: SONNTAG, DONALD

Donald Tadje Sonntag1926 2012Donald Tadje Sonntag died May 20, 2012 due to complications from a stroke. Don was born along with his twin brother Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 8, 1926 to Richard Peter and Lena Tadje Sonntag. He was one of twelve children and is survived by siblings, Philip Sonntag and Ruth Mickelson. He graduated from East High School in Salt Lake City. He served during WWII in the US Coast Guard and then completed a LDS mission to Western Canada. He married the cute girl who worked at the hardware store, Juanita Lund, in the Salt Lake Temple and they shared 61 years together. In 1954, he graduated from the U of U with a degree in Pharmacy, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, and later went on to start his own jewelry business. Don had an incredible work ethic, which allowed him to be successful in life. (The family is committed after his death to follow his advice and never buy retail.) Don was a committed husband and father. Family always came first. They were his ultimate pride and joy and it was important to him to raise his family in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was an active LDS Church member and held many callings throughout his life. Don loved spending time with his family at Bear Lake, working in his garage, maintaining his beautiful yard, and helping others. Don was the neighborhood handyman, always willing to help with any project. His happy demeanor, kind and generous nature will be missed. Much gratitude to the many caregivers, family, and friends who cared for and visited Don during the last year and a half of his life.Don is survived by his wife, Juanita Lund Sonntag, his eight children and their spouses, Gary (Pauline) Sonntag, Diane (Blaine) Austin, Susan (Joe) Brewer, Bryan Sonntag, Keith (LeeAnn) Sonntag, Paula (Alan) Taylor, Karen (Steve) Hunt, Jenny (Tom) Macfarlane, thirty-seven grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren.Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 23rd, at 12:00 pm at the Crestview Chapel, 2795 Crestview Drive, SLC. Friends may gather Tuesday evening from 6 8 pm at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, and on Wednesday morning from 10:30 11:30 am at the Crestview Chapel. Family and friends are encouraged to come with a thought or story to be placed in a memory box. Interment at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.