Sonja J. Stewart, 75, of Tigerton, passed away July 18, 2014, after a courageous battle with gastric cancer and end-stage liver disease. She was able to remain at home, cared for by her children, till the time of her death.
Sonja was born at home in the town of Fairbanks, Shawano County, on Jan. 27, 1939, the youngest of twin girls born to the late Charles and Gertrude (Bernarde) Butts. Each of the twins weighed over 7 pounds at birth. Sonja graduated from Tigerton High School in 1956, and attended Green Bay Badger Business College. Her first job was with Zwickey & Zwickey Attorneys at Law and Spearbreaker Insurance.
Sonja was united in marriage to Robert J. Stewart Sr. on Aug. 6, 1960, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Tigerton. After living in Whitcomb and Ladysmith for a short time, they eventually settled on the farm where Sonja was born and would raise seven children, as well as beef cattle. During that time, she was a 4-H leader for 17 years, and as the children got older, she was employed as an insurance agent with Clabough Insurance for 31 years. When the children were grown, she became a Hospice volunteer and gave end-of-life care to others for 24 years.
Sonja was a lifelong member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, where she served on the parish council, was a CCD teacher, worked confirmation retreats for eight years, participated in Koinonia retreats and belonged to the Catholic Council of Women serving funeral dinners. She was currently serving on the finance council, and was a volunteer at the Homme Home for Catholic Mass each Friday. She was also a member of the Tigerton Historical Society. In 2009, she was inducted into the Tigerton High School Alumni Wall of Fame for Preserving School History/Community Service. Her interests included her family, raising beef, dancing, playing cards, deer hunting, genealogy and local sporting events.
She will be lovingly missed by a daughter, Susan (Roger) Blumreich, of Shawano; sons, William (Amy), of Bonduel, Daniel (Julie), of Bevent, Robert Jr. (Dawn), of Dubuque, Iowa, Edward (Heather), of Tigerton, Paul (Kris), of Tigerton, and Peter (fiancée Shannon Rosenow), of Birnamwood. There are 19 grandchildren: Brian (Laura), Christa, Jeffrey, Travis, Bryce, Jacey, Jack, Simon, John, Kit, Jessica, Stephanie, Ashley, Trevor, Teagon, Tyler, Jacob, Allison and Caitlin. There are three stepgrandchildren, Brittany Bodart, Cassie and Cayla Rosenow. and one great-grandson, Austin Blumreich. Sonja is also survived by her twin sister, Sandra Jones, of Shawano.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert (Bob), on Feb. 24, 1986; a brother, Charles (Buddy); a sister and brother-in-law, Joanne and Roger Meisner; and a brother-in-law, William Jones.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, July 22, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Tigerton. The Rev. Patrick Lloyd will officiate and burial will follow at Union Cemetery, Tigerton. Friends may call on Monday from 5-8 p.m. at the church with Rosary at 8 p.m. The visitation will continue on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until time of Mass at the church.
The Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Tigerton, is assisting the family.
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