Janet Wagner Sonnichsen, 80

Janet Wagner Sonnichsen passed away with her husband, Dave, by her side on May 2, 2022, losing a challenging battle with brain cancer that she fought with determination and optimism.

Janet was born in Cottonwood, Idaho, on Jan. 6, 1942, to Fern and Joe Wagner. She was raised in Grangeville, Idaho, with her two brothers and two sisters. She graduated from St. Gertrude’s Academy in 1960 and then from Holy Names College in Spokane, with a degree in Home Economics in 1964. After graduation, she taught Home Ec in Rathdrum, Idaho. She met Dave Sonnichsen while she was at Holy Names and he was attending Gonzaga University. They married in 1964. They had three children, Dan, Julie and Mark. They lived in Coeur d’Alene, Sunnyvale, Calif., Redmond, Wash., and Clinton, Wash.

Janet will be remembered for her warm friendliness, her sense of humor and her kindness to others. She was a friend to many and will be dearly missed. She loved her garden and raised beautiful dahlias, among other flowers and vegetables. She was an accomplished quilter and shared her talent with family and friends. Janet and Dave enjoyed traveling, taking several European trips. They followed the Zags, traveling to Portland and Las Vegas for games.

Janet volunteered at Evergreen Hospice, St. Jude’s Women’s group, St. Hubert’s funeral committee and St. Hubert’s WOSH (Women of St. Hubert).

She is survived by her husband, David, children Dan and his wife, Lynette, and their children, Andrew and Katelynn; Julie and her husband, Gosha, and their daughter, Lana; and Mark and his wife, Katie, and their daughter, Annika. She is also survived by her sister, Margie Inghram, in Bothell, Wash., her brother, Bill, and his wife, Kathy, and her younger brother, Rob, and his wife, Brenda. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Virginia Hogard.

A funeral was held at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church in Langley, Wash. on May 20, 2022.

The family suggests remembrances to St. Hubert’s Church WOSH, P.O. Box 388, Langley, WA 98260.