DOUGLAS ANDREW SONNENBERG

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DOUGLAS ANDREW SONNENBERG Douglas Andrew Sonnenberg, aged 47, of the Togo, SK area district, formerly of the Inglis, MB district, BELOVED husband of Jeannine (Levesque), formerly of Whitemouth, MB, loved by all who knew him, died peacefully January 8, 2005, 10:40 a.m., after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Doug . . . , husband, son, father, step-father, step-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, was born July 2, 1957, the third of five children of Stella and William Sonnenberg of Inglis, MB. He grew up on the farm at Inglis, attended school there, and enjoyed growing up with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins around. He ventured out to Calgary as a young man for a time, but returned to the family farm to try his hand at farming. Already though, his heart was in trucking and he chose it as his career. After all . . , there was always something new to see throughout his travels in North America . . . , from Alaska to southern Texas, from California to New York. In 1997, he met Jeannine Levesque, a Christian lady, while taking driver orientation together at Arnold Brothers in Winnipeg, MB. They married July 25, 1998, settling on the Inglis farm, occasionally team driving now with their own truck. Doug's and Jeannine's marriage was a testimony of their devotion and unconditional love to each other. They were helpmates for one another, yet it was clear that Christ was their rock, their anchor, and their cornerstone. They relocated one and one-half years ago to the Togo SK area, obeying the call of God on their lives to attend bible school together at the Pentecostal Church in Kamsack, SK. They still drove truck as a team occasionally, but now on a more local level, travelling ice roads in the winter for Sigfusson Northern, hauling fertilizer in the spring for Clements Farm Supply, and logs in the fall to the Fort Francis, ON area for Harvey Dudar. Doug was excited to be part of God's ministry. The Christian tapes he handed out, wherever he drove throughout North America, will continue to do God's work and will continue his ministry as they continue to circulate. It was his greatest heart's desire that all family and friends, (and the world at large), come to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour, as he did. He so wanted them to have the peace and assurance that comes from being a born again child of God with the hope of eternal salvation. He was so excited to know that he was going to see Jesus soon. What a testimony to his wife and family, and to his Christian brothers and sisters . . . . . Doug was a warm and generous, always smiling, often laughing man. He had a ready hug for all those who wanted or needed one. He had a tender love for all children, cats and dogs, and had a special spot for ferrets. He called them clowns and would often laugh at their antics. He adored his wife and there was nothing he wouldn't try to do for her. Doug is survived by his wife Jeannine (Levesque); mother Stella of Inglis, MB; son Dustin of Devon, AB; stepson David (Staerk) of Winnipeg, MB; daughter Jocelyn of Taber, AB; step-daughters, Tammy (Staerk) of Winnipeg, MB and Sandra (Staerk) of Calgary, AB; brothers, Ron (Joyce) of Calgary, AB, Gary (Trish) of Calgary, AB; sisters, Linda (Rick Jackson) of Flin Flon, MB, Faye (Ed Klemack) of Inglis, MB; step-granddaughter Jordyn (St. Pierre) of Calgary, AB; various nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. He was predeceased by his father William on June 27, 2003. Funeral services will be held at the Kamsack Pentecostal Church, 537 First St., Kamsack, SK on Friday, January 14 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. at the Bethany Luthern Cemetery at Inglis, MB, with lunch to follow at the Bethany Luthern Church. Everyone is welcome. As discussed before his death, in lieu of cards and flowers, Doug and Jeannine personally invite family and guests to sign their names and record personal comments in the Register Book instead. Gratefully accepted are memorial donations towards a double size, electric palliative care bed for the Kamsack Hospital, to be dedicated to Doug's memory on behalf of his wife, family and friends. For those unable to attend, yet wishing to donate, monies may be sent to Jeannine Sonnenberg, Box 35, Togo, SK, S0A 4E0. Thanks to all family, friends and Pastor Carl Rushton who visited Doug during his final days, and to all those who sent heartfelt prayers and thoughts our way. Thanks to the doctors and nurses at the General and Pasqua Hospitals in Regina, and especially to those in palliative care in Kamsack Hospital for their kind attention to Doug's needs as well to his family's needs. Thank you to Dereck and staff of the E. Andrychuk Funeral Home in Kamsack in whose capable hands arrangements were entrusted. A sincere and heartfelt thank you to Pastor Carl Rushton, our shepherd and friend, who will be officiating the funeral; to Linda Rushton, Pastor Carl's wife and our friend, who will be reading the Eulogy; to the Pentecostal brothers and sisters who will be providing the music and songs; and to Doug's pallbearers: Dustin Sonnenberg (son), Gary Sonnenberg (younger brother), Billy Joe (sister Linda's son), Gilbert Levesque (father-in-law), Grant Jackson (longtime friend), Reg Brewer (Christian brother and friend). Also a big thank you to all of you who are able to attend Doug's funeral and interment, especially those who have quite a distance to travel. Douglas ..., I miss you sweetheart ..., but I know I shall see you again. Good-bye my darling; I know you rest now in the loving arms of Jesus. Your loving wife, Jeannine.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 12, 2005