Erna Sonnenfeld
June 18, 1918 - August 26, 2015
Obituary
Erna Sonnenfeld
Erna Sonnenfeld, of Seattle, WA passed away Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at Highline Regional Hospital in Burien. She was 97. A private family burial was held at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park on Tuesday, September 1st. There will be a memorial service at Glendale Lutheran Church, (13455 2nd Ave SW, Seattle, WA) held at a later date. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home (16445 International Blvd) SeaTac, WA is in charge of arrangements.
Erna Vera Ulmer was born June 18, 1918 to Gustave & Elenora (Walter) Ulmer on a farm two miles east of Hosmer, SD. She attended grade school in the area. As a young woman growing up during the Great Depression, Erna worked for several families in their homes, helping with the household chores and caring for their children.
Erna married Edmund Sonnenfeld at Mineral Wells, TX on June 11, 1942, while he was stationed at Fort Wolters Army Base before being shipped overseas. Erna returned to Hosmer where she worked and lived with family until Eddie returned from WWII in 1945. She and Eddie began raising their family there. Later, they lived in Aberdeen, SD until the early 1950’s when they moved to Seattle, WA. Both Erna and Eddie worked for Boeing Corporation, with Erna retiring in 1980.
Erna’s greatest joy in life was being a mother and grandmother to her six children and thirteen grandchildren. She loved to cook and care for them whenever she could. Erna will be remembered for always having a smile on her face and supporting her family, no matter how trying times were. Erna’s love and zest for life truly have been an inspiration for all who had the privilege to know and love her.
Erna is survived by her children, Wayne (Diane) Sonnenfeld, Bullhead City, AZ; Peggy (Howard) Cook, Leavenworth, WA; Fred (Carolyn) Sonnenfeld, Lake Havasu City, AZ; Terry (Kathy) Sonnenfeld, Snoqualmie, WA; Angie (Joe) Stoll, Burien, WA; thirteen grandchildren and twenty-five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Eddie, in 1999; son, Don Sonnenfeld in 1976; brothers, Willard Ulmer & Kermit Ulmer; and sisters, Naomi Hieb & Viola Weishaar.
What a wonderful helpful woman she was. We will all miss her