The George Sonnenberg Family

George Sonnenberg's father Henry Sonnenberg was born in Kirchspiel, Hanover, Germany. He came to America in 1866 at the age of 23. In 1876 he married Eliza Ludeman. They lived in Freedom Township, Henry County, for about six years. In 1882, they moved to a farm in Monroe Township, two miles east of Holgate. Here most of their eleven children were born and raised. They are: Charlie, George, Caroline, J. Harmon, Henrietta, Theodore, Henry, Olga, Frederick, Amelia, and Adelia. All are deceased except Amelia, (Mrs. Fred Schwiebert), Hamler, Ohio, and Henry Sonnenberg, Toledo, Ohio.

In 1912, George Sonnenberg's father and mother moved to Hamler. George married Sophia Lange on April 8, 1912, and stayed on the farm and continued farming. He also operated a steam powered ditching machine for several years.

Six children were born and raised on this farm near Holgate. They were Hugo, Mrs. Otto (Hulda) Hahn, Mrs. (Regina) Germann, Victor, Gilbert, and Roger. Some of the children went to the one room schoolhouse, known as the Huber School, also the Holgate School.

The family were active members of the Hope Lutheran Church of rural Hamler.

George farmed until 1946. He and his wife moved to Holgate. His son, Victor, married Frances Miller and stayed on the farm and kept on farming. George and his wife enjoyed lending a helping hand to their children on the farms, especially hoeing weeds, etc.

George Sonnenberg died on January 23, 1967, at the age of 87. Sophia continued keeping busy sewing, quilting, and crocheting afghans. She also likes to play cards and bowl. Other children living in Henry County are: Hugo, living on a dairy farm near Hamler; Hulda lives on a farm near Hamler. She is executive secretary of the American Cancer Society, Henry County unit; Gilbert lives in Napoleon and is an office employee of the Campbell Soup Company; Roger who resides in Liberty Center, Ohio, and works as a soil technician for the Henry Soil and Water Conservation District; Regina lives on a farm in Fulton County. She works in a grocery in Wauseon.

Victor and Gilbert served in the Navy. Roger in the U.S. Air Force.

There are seventeen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. One grandchild Daird Sonnenberg was fatally killed in an automobile accident at the age of 16. Six of the grandchildren have served in the military service. Grandson, Lester Wayne Hahn, is presently retiring from the

U.S. Air Force, after 23 years of service. Craig Sonnenberg is currently serving in the Air Force. Terry Germann is a minister in Lafayette, Louisiana; Darwin Sonnenberg owned and operated the Hamler Bowling Lanes for several years. Keith Sonnenberg is a dairy farmer and lives near Malinta. Milton Hahn, Malinta, farms and works as fieldman for the Heinz Company of Bowling Green, Ohio. Randy Germann is Henry County engineer, and lives in Napoleon. Tim Sonnenberg, Logan, Ohio, is 4-H agent of Hocking County. Vickie Sonnenberg, Columbus, works for an insurance company there. Steve Sonnenberg is a student at Georgia Tech Institute, Atlanta, Ga. Connie Hahn Sharpe, Columbus, is a nurse; Lila Sonnenberg Wernecke, Bryan, is secretary at the Hayes-Albion plant at West Unity. Charlotte Germann Price, Wauseon, is a secretary at the Four- County School, Archbold. John Sonnenberg, Napoleon, is a student at Ohio State University, Columbus. Cathy Sonnenberg, Napoleon, is a high school student there. Three year old Tina Sonnenberg, youngest of the grandchildren is the daughter of Roger Sonnenberg.

The George Sonnenberg family has 58 members now living in Ohio and other states.

Submitted by: Mrs. Hugo Sonnenberg