Obituaries : Jerome “Jerry” Sonka Jr.

Jerome "Jerry" Sonka Jr., age 75, died Monday, January 6, 2020, at his home in rural Newhall.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, January 11, 2020 at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th Street) in Vinton. The family will greet friends from 1:00 until service time at the funeral home on Saturday.

Jerry was born on November 13, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, to Jerome John and Marcella (Pickart) Sonka Sr. He graduated from Newhall High School in 1962. Jerry attended Boy's State as a junior and served as president of FFA as a senior in High School. On February 20, 1965, he was united in marriage to Barbara Cahalan at St. Paul Catholic Church in Newhall. Jerry and Barb farmed in the Newhall area, prior to his retirement.

He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church and served as an elder and board member for 2 terms. He served 2 years as vice president of the Vinton Extension Council. Jerry helped start the Newhall Jaycee's and played on Chuck & Carol Kunstorf's softball team in Newhall for 27 years. He and Barb were members of the "Fun" card club for 50 years. Jerry was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Chicago Cub fan and attended 9 bowl games through the years. Jerry taught his children the value of hard work on the farm, they loved to show hogs at the county and state fairs. He also enjoyed time spent with his grandchildren, giving tractor rides and attending their school events.

Survivors include his wife Barbara; children, John (Sheila) Sonka of Ellsworth, IL, Kim McAtee of Cedar Rapids, Jamie (Miranda) Sonka of Newhall; 8 grandchildren, Tyler, and Blake Sonka, Paige (Brandon) Dullea, Amanda McAtee and Andrew McAtee, Baily, Lexie and Cole Sonka; brother Steven (Karilyn) Sonka of Champaign-Urbana IL; and his sisters, Carolyn Peiffer of Walford, and Melanie (Tom) Kenney of Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother-in-law Denny Peiffer

Online Condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com