Lonnie Clarence Soyk
October 16, 1944 - June 13, 2008
Obituary
Lonnie Clarence Soyk
Lonnie Clarence Soyk was born October 16, 1944 to Clarence and Louise Soyk in Midlothian, Illinois. The youngest of 3, he graduated from High School and eventually began to work for United Airlines. He was drafted into the Army and served 2 years during the Vietnam Conflict in Germany driving tanks. Following his service, he returned to the Chicago area and continued to work for United Airlines, where he met his wife, Karen. They were married on February 5, 1972. On November 23rd of the same year, they welcomed their only child, a daughter, Alecia Lee. In 1978, Lon transferred to the Seattle-Tacoma Airport and his family followed in 1979. Lon loved Seattle. He would spend his entire summer vacation on his boat at Blake Island with all his buddies just hanging out and having a good time. He was a devoted Father and Husband and generous friend. He was exceptionally proud of his daughter Alecia who eventually went on to graduate with Honors from the University of Kentucky in 1996 and then the University of Washington with a Master of Science degree in 1998. He was thrilled when he learned that she had decided to pursue a clinical doctorate degree in Audiology. On May 2, 1999 he was honored to walk her down the aisle at her wedding to Michael Manning and in 2002 welcomed the birth of his first grandchild, Anabelle Lee. In 2006, the second grandchild, Roxanne Serenity followed. His grand-daughters were the light of his life and he cherished the time he spent with them. He retired from United in 2002, and spent most of his time at home, as he had developed lung-disease which made travel very difficult. He looked forward to the time he was to spend with his family, especially the time he had with his grand-daughters. Lon’s lung disease progressed rapidly and on June 13, 2008, he joined his father Clarence who preceded him in death. He will sorely be missed, but his suffering is done and he is at peace.
Lon Soyk is survived by his wife of 36 years, Karen his daughter Alecia, and his two grand-daughters, Anabelle and Roxanne. He is also survived by his mother, Louise Soyk of Phoenix, AZ, and by his two sisters, Nancy Bettenhausen of San Diego, CA and Donna Keith of Phoenix, AZ.
When writing this obituary, I tried to think of what I would want to say. What would I want people to remember about him? Or if they never met him, what would I want them to know about the man he was and the life he led? Lon Soyk was a funny guy who loved to laugh. That is one of the things I will remember the most about my dad. He seemed the happiest when he was hanging with his family and friends on his boat, having a beer, and just shootin’ the breeze. He was a big teddy-bear. At my wedding, I was convinced my mom would be the one who was an emotional wreck…I was wrong. When I looked back during the ceremony, there was mom smiling away and dad right next to her, crying his eyes out. He was a man who was gentle, barely ever raised his voice and did everything he could and often more to provide a loving and stable home for my mom and I. And when it came to his grand-daughters, there wasn’t anything in the world he loved more. There were pictures of them everywhere around the corner in the kitchen where he spent most of his time. And Anabelle adored him. When we would come to visit, if she wasn’t out with me and my mom, you would find her parked right next to him in the kitchen, drawing pictures, or coloring, or whatever, probably because dad would let her watch whatever kids show she wanted. He just loved having her there next to him. Once I went into the kitchen and she had covered his entire left arm with hundreds of star stickers and dad couldn’t have been happier. Roxanne was just a baby when they met, she would crawl around the corner and play peek-a-boo with him over and over laughing hysterically each time. Although the last few years of his life weren’t as full as the first 60, I know that he got tremendous joy from watching and getting to know my girls, and visiting with me when we would come out. I also know that he loved my mother deeply. When it comes to my parents, they weren’t exactly big at public displays of affection, but dad wouldn’t have known what to do without my mom. One image I will always remember is the last dance at my wedding reception, when I saw them dancing, and he was tenderly holding my mother, with his eyes closed, dancing close to the woman he loved. As much as I will miss my father, to lose you spouse, the person you chose to be with the rest of you life, must be one of the hardest things to endure. There are small comforts in knowing that your spouse is no longer in pain or suffering, but those feelings can’t even begin to replace the missing piece from that place in your heart.
My dad was a generous, kind, loving, and gentle person who valued his friends and family and the good times he shared with them. I know that he would not want any of us to be sad for his passing, but remember the man he was with love and joy and celebrate what his life was and what he stood for. I will tell my daughters about the amazing man that their grandfather was and how he always put the needs of those he loved before his own. How some of the best parts of me, I got from him, and how I was blessed to have such a wonderful and loving man as my father. I know dad is somewhere, sitting on a boat, having a beer and taking big, deep breaths watching over us and even though he may not be here in form, I know that he will always be with me in spirit guiding me in all I do. I am proud of my father and who I am because of him and what he taught me. I am my father’s daughter.
Happy Birthday Dad. I miss you.
Lonnie was one of the good ol boys from the old school. I enjoyed his easy laughs and I appreciated his friendship. I am so very sorry for your loss and hope that you can find comfort in all your warm memories…
Words just don’t seem like enfough to tell you what a great guy Lonnie
was. He was so much to everyone who knew him. I will miss him greatly.
Lonnie will always be remembered as a very likeable and fun guy…he will be missed by all…my condonlences to family and friends
I like alot of others am very saddend to hear of Lonnies passing. I have know Lonnie since is arrival in Seattle all those many years ago. He was as so many others have stated a good man. What I appreciated about Lonnie was his even temper. I alway knew who was showing up to work when it came to Lonnie. It was my task before he retired to oversee the fueling department that cared so much about. I have clinked more than a couple of beers with him and glad I had the opportunity. I have missed him since he retired and will miss him in his passing.
Lonnie was such a gentleman. I had the pleasure of working with him at United Airlines and knew I could always count on him for a smile and a calm presence. My sincere condolences to the family. He will be greatly missed.
May God be with his family, friends and loved ones.
I am so sorry to hear of lon’s passing. I worked with lonnie here in seattle after my return to seattle from san francisco. From the very first day I met lonnie thanks to bob kent I felt like I had known him my whole life, he was so easy to have for a freind.There are just to many memories to recall, all the great times at work and just being around him at work made the job so much easier with all the laughs and then there were all the best of times in and around the boat I had bought a boat upon my return to seattle and he was the very best at offering help and advise and then the times at blake isl. I was there for some of those and they were the greatest, just standing or sitting on the dock or boat and sharing stories with a beer, thos were the best of times and they will be dearly missed as will be lonnie. There are people you meet in life that make your life better and those people are never forgetten and lonnie was one of them
We are so sorry to hear of Lon’s passing. Although we only met him when Alecia and Mike got married, we truly enjoyed our time with him and would have enjoyed getting to know him better.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, especially our daughter-in-law Alecia in the loss of her Dad who loved her so much!!
Sending you our love and thoughts. I hope memories can make you smile during this time of sadness.
Shanan, Greg, Colin and Hadley Williams
Legacy… Being able to make a difference and leave a mark. Looking at the kind and heartfelt words that you offered up for your Father – It’s obvious that he did very well in this life to leave a lasting effect. Be well, Alecia…My best to you and your family.
you are in my prayers
You are in my prayers.
Our deepest condolences are with the Soyk family for their lost. My brief contacts with Lon, I found him to be a true gentlemen. My heart goes out to Karen, and hopefully time will heal the pain. May God speed be with you!
I will always think of Lon as my little brother. I remember telling my first-grade teacher, who told me to go straight home, that I couldn’t because my mom was in the hospital getting us a baby brother; so I had to go to my Grandma’s. Later, as we were sitting in the car in the parking lot of St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, Dad went in to get Mom and Baby Lonnie. My bottom front tooth is chipped to this day because I fell, while carrying Lon when he was a couple years old, and hit my chin on his head. I also remember giving Lon a piggy-back ride and telling him that, one day, he would be big enough to give me a piggy-back ride. He never did, but my little brother grew up to be a big little brother; but he’ll always be that little boy I remember. I didn’t realize how ill Lon was these last few years because he always answered the telephone when I called, with his big, cheerful voice saying “Hi Nan”. We will miss him.
We have never met Lonnie Soyk. We are good friends of his sister Donna Keith.
When Donna would talk about her brother it was always positive and loving.
She said he reminds her a lot of her father Clarence, who we knew for many years, so in a sense we know what kind of person Lonnie was.
I am sure both Lonnie and his father are both in heaven and is looking down on the family and taking care of them.
Our condolences for your loss.
I had the pleasure of meeting Lon only a few times when he had occasion to be in Illinois but I have been friends with his sister, Donna,for many many years and have known his Mom and sister Nancy for almost as long. Donna, Nancy and Louise have always spoken so fondly of thier brother and son respectively and shared with pride the marriage of his daughter and the birth of his grandchildren. My sympathy is extended to the entire family. Karen, I know your pain of loss, as I too am a widow but the highlights of your life together will surface often and you will smile as Lon will be smiling from above. He will live in your heart forever.
Uncle Lon was not only my Uncle, and God Father, but while I was growing up he was like the cool big brother just 14 years older than me. He always had a smile, a joke, and only kind words. He truly set the example that a God Parent should, simply by the way he lived – with his kindness and generosity towards others, and his positive view of life. His gentle, laid back nature, and that Always Welcoming Smile is what I know anyone that knew him is sure to miss the most. I am So Thankful for the memories I have of him, and was Most Blessed to have had him in my life. My prayers are with you Aunt Karen, Alecia and Family.
When I think of my litle brother, I think of a little boy and his dog, Candy, swinging across a creek on a rope.I think of the soft spoken gentle man he became. I see him sitting by the table working a crossword puzzle and think how much he looked and acted just like my dad. I know my father was waiting to greet him. We will miss you!!!
Miss you dad.
Well, it’s 7 years later and I don’t miss him any less. I remember all the times we shared and am saddened that my children will never grow up knowing him like I did. He would have adored them and been completely powerless against them…lol. I’ll raise a glass and make a toast in honor of him today. Even though he’s gone, I still feel him with me.
Miss you dad!