STEELEVILLE - Sondra "Sonnie" Fae Mahnken, 66, of Steeleville, Illinois, returned to her Heavenly Father on Friday, September 1st, 2023.

Sondra was born in Murphysboro, Illinois, on June 15, 1957, to A.C. and Margaret "Peggy" McLaughlin along with her twin Ron. She married Dennis Mahnken of Steeleville on August 23, 1980, and together they operated a dairy farm for many years. She was a faithful member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Steeleville, Illinois. She loved the farm, animals and playing piano. But most of all, she loved her family. She befriended everyone she met, no matter their background, and she loved hard and fierce.

Sondra is survived by her husband of 43 years, Dennis, and three children-Curtis (Amber) Mahnken of Arden Hills, MN, Christa Mahnken of Murphysboro, Ill., and John Mahnken of Steeleville, Ill. She is also survived by her dear sister, Beverly (Roger) Connor of LaCenter, KY and three brothers, Thomas McLaughlin, Ronald McLaughlin and Gregory (Charlotte) McLaughlin all of Murphysboro, Ill, sisters-in-law Myrna (Wayne) Eldridge of Sparta, Ill, and Lois (Myron) Dudenbostel of Steeleville, Ill, and many loved nieces and nephews.

She is joined in Heaven by both of her parents, and her mother and father in-law (Ernst & Oneida) and all of her cherished pets who preceded her in death.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Steeleville, with Rev. Mark Harriss officiating. Burial will follow at Paradise Cemetery, Steeleville. Visitation will be at Wilson's Funeral Home, Steeleville, where friends may call from 6 pm until 8 pm Tuesday, and on Wednesday from 7:30 am until 9 am, then from 10 am until 11 am at the church. The preferred form of remembrance are memorials to St. Mark's Lutheran Church, and can be mailed to Wilson's Funeral Home, PO Box 217, Steeleville, IL 62288.