Obituaries

 

Sonja Mae Morrison

PORTAGE – Sonja Mae Morrison, age 73, died on Monday, December 15, 2014 at her home in Portage.

Sonja was born on September 22, 1941 to Elmer Offerdahl and Ione Margaret Lumby Offerdahl.  She was the apple of their eye and grew up as an only child involved in many family and community activities, 4H projects and creative activities.  She loved flowers and would purchase a bouquet weekly at the Portage Market Day.  She attended Wyocena and Pardeeville schools, and graduated from Pardeeville High School.  Sonja was also known for her artwork and creativity.  She enjoyed art and crafts and was talented to create many pictures and creations for herself and others.  Sonja enjoyed decorating.

After her mother’s long battle with cancer, she and her father moved to Portage, where she met her husband, Elton Joseph Morrison, Jr.  They were married at the First Presbyterian Church in Portage, where she has been a faithful member for many years.  The church was an important part of Sonja’s life and the church members became a family to her.  She enjoyed singing in choir, serving at meal functions, helping with decorating and other functions at the church.  She and Joe sang with the Zona Gale Singers.

She was employed at Weyenberg Shoe Factory until it closed and was employed at other areas in Portage. She loved her job as a crossing guard providing safety for youngsters and information for Portage visitors.

She loved animals and always had a little dog as her companion.  She and Liz, her last little dog, were frequent visitors to Tivoli when Joe was a resident there.  Many of the people enjoyed their visits.  Sonja’s picture for the church directory this year includes Liz. 

She and Joe pursued many interests, including bowling and enjoyed the friendships they made.  Joe and Sonja enjoyed traveling, visiting family in Florida, Colorado, Massachusetts and Wisconsin.  They met many new friends as they enjoyed bus tours to various places.  She has been fortunate to continue to enjoy tours with her friends and family as an over 10 year ovarian cancer survivor.  She enjoyed going out to eat and being with her many friends from school, church, and the community.

Sonja is survived by many cousins and friends;  her sisters-in-law, Beth Affeldt, Madison, Annette Luchow, New Berlin and Mary Ekvall-Bauer, Florida;  other relatives and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Joseph in 2012.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 19, 2014 at the Portage Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. David Hankins officiating. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Friday. A lunch will follow the service and burial will follow in the Wyocena Cemetery.

The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family. 

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)