Adrian Joseph ("Ade") Sondag, 94, of 904 Third Street in Lacon passed away at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 19th, 2014.
Born October 12, 1920 in New England, North Dakota to Joseph and Antonelle Miedle, he married Esther Schwemmer in 1948 in Philadelphia, PA. She preceded him in death on June 1, 2011.
They raised four children, Barbara (Lee) Branche of Jacksonville, NC;William "Bill" Sondag of Lacon; Kathleen "Annie" Sondag of Missoula, MT; and Adree Ann Rojas of Palm Springs, CA. He also had six grandchildren, Adrienne (Russ) Matthews of Charlotte, NC; Christina (Mike) Stroff of Uvalde, TX; Elsa Rojas of Cleveland, OH; Sofia Rojas of Albuquerque, NM; Lorraine Rojas of Houston, TX; and Lawson and William Goodloe of Missoula, MT. He also had four great-grandchildren.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December, 1937 at the age of 17, obtaining the rank of 2nd class yeoman. He was heading back from San Juan, Puerto Rico to New York in December of 1941 to receive his discharge. While on the ship back to New York, he heard over the ship's radio that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor and realized his discharge wasn't going to happen. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific, the first two years on an oil tanker and the final two years in the submarines, stationed out of Honolulu.
After his discharge at the end of the war, he returned to North Dakota where he began his career in the newspaper business, owning newspapers in Elgin, North Dakota, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and finally the Lacon Home Journal.
He served as City Clerk while at Elgin, North Dakota and was a 45-year member of the Toluca Rotary Club. He was also a member of St. Edwards Catholic Church in Chillicothe.
He was once an avid hunter and fisherman, but in his later years enjoyed playing golf and just hanging with his kids and grandkids, making frequent trips to North Carolina, Montana, and California.
He was a great father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
The family is planning a private graveside service at a later date. Lenz Memorial Home in Lacon is assisting the family with their arrangements.
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