Wendell Edward Sonnenberg, 87, a lifelong area cattleman, went home to be with the Lord, on Saturday, October 17th, 2015 in Greeley.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 21, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with family to receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 300 Ballpark Rd. in Sterling with Pastor John Roberts officiating.
Interment to follow at Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church.
Wendell was born on Sept. 4, 1928 in Sterling, CO at the Good Samaritan Hospital. He received his primary education from Leroy School. He graduated from Sterling High School in 1946. Two years later, he graduated from Northeastern Junior College, where he majored in general agriculture.
He married Jewel Borth on June 22, 1952 at the First Baptist Church in Sterling. Together they raised four children: Rod, Don, Nancy and Cheryl.
Cattle judging was a very special interest of his. He was an active 4-H member and won a state judging championship. He placed third in the nation in cattle judging at the 1946 International Livestock Exhibition in Chicago. His prowess as a judge of cattle was recognized in 1970 when he was named to serve as one of four judges in the toughest and most highly touted feeder cattle show in the nation - The National Western Stock Show. He held that honor for four consecutive years.
He served as a member of the board of directors and vice president of the A.A. Smith 4-H and FFA Beef Foundation for the entire 15 year existence of that event.
In 1953, along with his father E.E. and brother Maynard, they built E.E. Sonnenberg and Sons Feedlot and operated in Sterling until 1975, at which point they built one of the most modern facilities in the nation in Proctor, CO. The three of them operated the feedlot until 1983, when it was sold. He continued ranching and order buying, also receiving cattle on pasture east of Sterling.
He was an active member of First Baptist Church. In August of 2012, he and Jewel were honored as Grand Marshalls for the Logan County Fair. In May of 2015, he and Jewel were honored as Mace Bearers at Northeastern Junior College for their annual Graduation.
His hobbies were few, as his livelihood was his passion. He spent a lot of his time at Sterling Livestock Commission, almost never missing a sale in 70 years. His presence was well known at many sale barns throughout the region.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Laura C. Held, and father, Edward E. Sonnenberg. Also preceding him in death was his brother, Maynard.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jewel; sons Rod Sonnenberg and wife Gloria, and Don Sonnenberg, daughters Nancy Sonnenberg, and Cheryl Miller and husband Jim, all of Sterling; 15 grandchildren, Kasha Sheets and husband Matt, Kylan Sonnenberg and wife Jami, Bobby Knupple and husband Brent, Juanita Reynolds, Micah Sonnenberg and wife Erin, Shantell Sonnenberg, Kaeoni Sonnenberg, Holden Nestor and Shelbi Imhof, Jonathan Sonnenberg, Kelby Robinett, Rhonnie Robinett, Skyler Nestor, Morgan Robinett, Dawn Sonnenberg and Gabrille Sonnenberg; and 10 great-grandchildren, Kaeden and Kashley Sheets, Ella Sonnenberg and Elijah Geren, Wyatt, Taten and Adalyn Sonnenberg, Aurea Sonnenberg, and Wesley and Mason Knupple.
He is also survived by in-laws, Richard Borth and wife Lois, Vern Borth and wife Gay, David Borth and Verna Sonnenberg, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and MANY special friends.
Chaney-Reager Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.