Luella Sonnabend

Luella Clara (Eineke) Sonnabend, age 98, of Saint James, passed away June 14, 2024, at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth in Rochester, MN.

A funeral service will be held at Saint Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Saint James on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 11:00 am, with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Saint James.

Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Luella was born April 28, 1926, in rural Wright County to Ewald and Ida Teske. She was the youngest of 5 children. In her early years, she moved with her family to a farm in rural Truman. Luella attended country school until the 8th grade, when she had to leave school to help care for her parents, and work on the family farm.

On October 15, 1944, Luella was united in marriage to Lewis Eineke, at St. John’s Lutheran in South Branch, MN. Together they had 3 children, Marlin, Laurel, and Lynette. Luella and Lewis farmed in the South Branch area until 1950, when they purchased a farm near rural Lasalle, and began farming there from 1950 to retirement in 1977. Luella worked hard on the farm, helping with dairy chores, planting, and harvesting. She enjoyed her large garden, and caring for her family, including her parents who she became a caretaker for in their later years. In 1982, Luella and Lewis moved from the farm to a home in Saint James.  Lewis passed away a few years later, on October 31, 1986, at the age of 69.

Luella was united in marriage to Harvey Sonnabend on June 26, 1993.  Together they enjoyed dancing to old time music, playing cards, attending local sporting events for their grandchildren, and traveling to Branson, MO.  Harvey and Luella enjoyed 8 years together, before Harvey passed away from cancer on April 14, 2001.

Luella enjoyed gardening, quilting, baking, and cooking her authentic German dishes. She enjoyed playing cards and bingo and visiting with friends. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and looked forward to spending time with them. She enjoyed traveling to Elmwood Park, IL, to spend time with her sister and best friend Irma Marks, and her family. Luella was a member St. Paul’s Lutheran, and active in the ladies aide.

Luella is survived by her children, Marlin Eineke of Glendale Heights, IL, Laurel (Joel) Hultgren of Saint James, MN, and Lynette (Mark) Krakowski of Rochester, MN; step-children, Gregg (Marcia) Sonnabend of Kasson, MN, Timothy (Brenda) Sonnabend of Darfur, MN, Chad (Kristen) Sonnabend of Mountain Lake, MN, and Mark (Brenda) Sonnabend of Janesville, MN; grandchildren, James (Angela) Hultgren, Kristin (Ron) Aden, Jenna (Michael) Klepatz, Rebecca Eineke, Eric, Brandon, Lauren, Katelyn, and Morgan Krakowski; great grandchildren, McKenna, Payton, Tyler Hultgren, Alex and Adisyn Aden, Kellan and Kinley Klepatz; and step-grandchildren, Kim (Greg) Douke, Diane (Matt) Bowron, Emily (James) Evans, Steven (Jess) Sonnabend, and Kyle (Hajera) Sonnabend.

Luella was preceded in death by her parents, Ewald and Ida Teske; husbands, Lewis Eineke and Harvey Sonnabend; brothers, Herbert, Elmer and Milton Teske; sister, Irma Marks; and as well as several nieces and nephews.