Arno Kent Sonnenberg, 84, passed away into the arms of Jesus, his Savior on Oct. 14,2024.
He was born in Fort Wayne to Robert Dale and Mabel Mae (Shady) Sonnenberg on Sept. 24, 1940. He met his wife, Ella Marie (Cookie) Aeschliman at the Dutch Mill restaurant in Bluffton, where Arno worked as a cook and Cookie as a car hop. They were married at Uniondale UMC on Aug. 25, 1962.
Arno was employed at International Harvester, later Navistar, retiring in 2000 after 41 years of service. He loved his job as product engineer in the paint lab where he tested paints and helped solve production problems at Harvester manufacturing sites.
Arno and Cookie had a family of four loving sons and six grandchildren. He adored his grandchildren and often wrote letters and funny stories about animals to them while he was in Wolverine, Michigan, for the winter.
Arno and Cookie enjoyed their seasonal home in Wolverine where they snowmobiled with their friends and family well into their late 70s. They also enjoyed hunting for morels, hunting Petoskey stones on Lake Michigan beaches, riding ATV’s and side by sides and simply loved God’s beautiful creation of Northern Michigan.
At home, they raised Arabian horses and attended many horse shows. He also restored and painted several International Scouts over the years with his sons as well as Cub Cadet garden tractors and full size tractors. He also painted many other cars and trucks for family and friends. Arno loved baking pies, cookies and cakes during his retirement years. Arno also enjoyed hunting for Indian artifacts and as usual it was a family affair. He passed a love of all these things to his sons, daughters and grandchildren.
Arno was a member of Murray Missionary Church where he served as a trustee on the board, he served as an usher and was a VBS volunteer for several years.
Survivors include his beloved wife Ella Marie (Cookie) of 62 years; sons, Kent Douglas Sonnenberg, Michael Dale (Angela) Sonnenberg and Steven Lee (Andrea) Sonnenberg; grandchildren, Emma Katheryn Sonnenberg, twins Samantha Marie (Parker) Braun and Madelyn Louise (Nicolas) Alles, Avery Brynn Sonnenberg, Nolan Christopher Sonnenberg, and Mollee Nicole Sonnenberg; and a sister, Cinda Gater.
Preceding him in death were a son Chris Allen Sonnenberg in 1986, his parents and his brother, Werden Sonnenberg.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 at Murray Missionary Church. A celebration of life service will be held at noon at the church. Pastor Mike Gilbert will officiate services. Burial will take place at Oaklawn Cemetery in Ossian at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made in Arno’s memory to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society or National Kidney Foundation.
Online condolences can be made atwww.goodwincaleharnish.com.
Goodwin – Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel have been entrusted with funeral arrangements.