Sunday's Stories, 52 Ancestor Weeks, Week # 30, Laura Mary Catherine Sonntag Pickleman Steinbach

Copyright 2014, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This is week 30 of my participation Amy Johnson Crow's, once a week challenge to blog about one ancestor a week, tell their story, biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on that one ancestor. More about the challenge can be found at her Blog, No Story Too Small.

Laura Mary Catherine Sonntag was born April 18, 1898 at Brookfield Township, Huron County, Michigan to John Andrew Ernest Sonntag and his wife Mary (nee Gerth) Sonntag.

Photo of Laura provided by Man's mother.

Laura was a cousin of Man's mother.  Millie had fond memories of Laura when they were young, so she asked me to find out what happened to Laura.  Some research hours later I was happy to provide her with the facts.

Laura married Erwin C. Pickleman on June8, 1919 at Kilmanaugh, Huron County, Michigan.  The image of their marriage record as recorded in Huron County has been digitally edited, no facts have been changed.  The record comes from a 2 page record book, page 2 is the bottom half of this image.

Wedding photo of Laura and Edwin courtesy of  Erma Kuehn Callahan (now deceased).

Laura and Edwin had five children that I have recorded in my data base:

1.)  Edwin J. Pickleman
2.)  Lucinda M. Pickleman
3.)  Marie E. Pickleman
4.)  Harley C. Pickleman
5.)  Loretta E. Pickleman

Edwin died in 1944.  Laura married second, John A. Steinbach (also found spelled Steinbeck) on June 17, 1950 (place not known at this time.)

Laura died on August 4, 1954 at Saginaw County, Michigan.

Laura's obituary appeared in the Thursday, August 8, 1954 issue of The Saginaw News, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan:
     "Steinbach, Mrs. Laura M.
     5465 (or 5463) State Street
     Wife of John A. Steinbach, passed away suddenly at St. Luke's Hospital at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday.   Age 56 years, Laura M. Sonntag was born April 18, 1898, in Huron County, and was married there to Erwin Pickelman, June 1, 1919.  Shortly after their marriage they came to Saginaw.  Mr. Pickelman passed away Sept 18, 1944.  On June 17, 1950, she was married to Mr. Steinbach.   The deceased was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and its Ladies Guild.  Besides her husband, she leaves three daughters and two sons, Mrs. Jack A. Thompson, Mrs. Stewart Spyker, Mrs. Richard Collison, Harley C. and Edwin J. Pickelman, all of Saginaw; five grandchildren; also one brother, Leonard Sonntag, Lennox, Mich.; her step-mother, Mrs. John Sonntag, Sebewaing.  Funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at Peace Lutheran Church. Rev. Lorenz Weber and Rev. Lorenze Speckman will officiate with burial in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Case Chapel after 10 a.m. Friday until 11:30 a.m. Saturday, and from 1 p.m. Saturday until time of service at the church."

Laura's Find A Grave memorial is found here, you can see a photo of her headstone there.  She was buried at Bethelehem Lutheran Cemetery, Saginaw Township, Saginaw County, Michigan on August 7, 1954.

Wish list for Laura:  Copy of her second marriage.  Further information about her second husband, he may be connected to this researchers data base in more than one relationship.  His death data has not been found, there is a headstone for him with no end date at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.




* Additional source data can be obtained by contacting me, see the right hand column for a yahoo email address.

** 52 Ancestors Weeks Button courtesy of Amy Johnson Crow.

*** I use many resources to research, FamilySearch.org is a free site.  Ancestry.com is a pay site for which I pay, no discounts, etc.  None of these sites have asked me to review them, or use them.  See my Disclaimers page for further details.

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