http://www.walkersanderson.com/obituaries/Sonja-Julia-Herbert/Provo-UT/1480123
Sonja Julia Herbert
September 29, 1947 - February 6, 2015
Resided in Provo, UT
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Obituary
Sonja Julia Herbert, 1947~2015
On the evening of February 6, 2015, at age 67, Sonja Julia Herbert passed away due to injuries received in an auto-pedestrian accident. At the time of her passing, Sonjalein was surrounded by loving family at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. She was an extraordinarily strong woman who radiated an example of loving acceptance to every life she touched.
Sonja was born to the late Apolinary Wawrzyniak (Father) and Margot Edel (Mother) on September 29, 1947 in Duisburg, Germany. Born in the aftermath of World War II, Sonja experienced an uncommon childhood with her parents and siblings in a travelling carnival (as recorded in her published memoir, "Carnival Girl: Searching for God in the Aftermath of War," available on Amazon.com).
Her early life provided few roots, and the constant shift from place to place left Sonja searching for an anchor in her life. Through her struggles was born a much-sought-after relationship with God. As a result, Sonja was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly thereafter, she served a Mormon mission in the Germany Dusseldorf Mission for eighteen months.
On August 3, 1971, Sonja married Gary A. Towne. Continuing her life's journey, Sonja and Gary moved to the United States. In Manti, Utah, Sonja performed some of her most important work in life as she bore and raised seven cherished children. The death of her daughter, Keena Anne, in 1977 was a terrible trial through which she gained an unwavering belief in the eternal nature of life and of family relationships.
After her marriage to Gary Towne ended in August of 1990, Sonja moved with her children to Provo, Utah. Here, she continued her dream of acquiring higher education. Sonja went on to earn an Associate's degree at Snow College, a Bachelor's degree from Southern Utah University (Summa cum Laudae), and a Master's degree at Brigham Young University. While at BYU, she met Kenneth E. Herbert. Ken and Sonja married December 21, 1996 and remain eternal sweethearts today.
Sonja is an award-winning, published author, best known for her book Carnival Girl. Her historical novel, Tightrope, about her mother's life as a Jew in Nazi Germany, is still in progress.
She is survived by husband Ken Herbert; former husband Gary Towne; siblings Franz Wawrzyniak, Carmen Joseph, Josefa Dahl, Ewa Wawrzyniak, and Michael Wawrzyniak, all of Germany; children Dennis Towne, Daniel Towne, and Liesel Towne of Oregon; Marja Towne, Marit Towne, and Megan Towne Wickersham of Utah; step children Kenneth Herbert of Arizona, Jennifer Cano and Mariah Fralick of Utah, Jonathan Herbert of Texas, and Katherine Girard of Oregon; and by fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sonja was preceded in death by her father Apolinary Wawrzyniak; mother-in-law Verna Towne; and by her daughter Keena Anne.
Sonja left every life she touched with an undeniable sense of their worth to her.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 18 at 1pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 800 North Locust Lane, Provo Utah 84606. To reach the chapel, proceed East on 800 North and turn left on Locust Lane. All who knew her are invited to come celebrate her life.
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