Obituary
Bonnie Jean (Wolff) Sobania, 77, of The Villages, FL, entered her Savior’s more immediate presence on June 13, 2020. Originally from Lake Mills, WI, Bonnie was born on January 22, 1943, the daughter of Leo and Viola (Burdick) Wolff. After graduating from Lake Mills High School in 1961, Bonnie received business training through Northwest Airlines in Minneapolis, an education that would prepare her for a successful career in the printing industry later on. Before that would happen, however, Bonnie met Lee. After a whirlwind courtship, they married on December 15, 1962. The decade brought the birth of their daughters Christine and Catherine. As a hobby, Bonnie and Lee enjoyed house hunting, a pastime which resulted in their taking up serial residency in the Wisconsin communities of Lake Mills, Fort Atkinson, Marshall and Jefferson. In 2001, following a 3-year, cross country, RV expedition, they settled in The Villages.
Career-wise, Bonnie worked at Johnson Hill Press in Fort Atkinson, and later at Perry Printing Company in Waterloo where she eventually became the regional liaison between the printing house and its client, Time Inc, publisher of Time, People, and Sports Illustrated. Notably, Bonnie was the person who would take custody of the magazine proofs shipped from the New York office to the Madison airport and then on to the printing plant. Hence, Bonnie held the annual secrets of who would appear on the cover of Time as the Person of the Year, and of the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition. In 1990, Bonnie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Edgewood College.
Bonnie and Lee enjoyed traveling. Some of their favorite adventures took place in Hawaii, Canada, Italy, England, Austria and Australia. When she wasn’t physically traveling, she adventured in her mind as a voracious reader. Bonnie adored the company of all her beloved animal companions.
Bonnie’s spiritual home was in the Moravian Church. Her favorite hymn from that tradition expresses her Resurrection hopefulness:
Should not I for gladness leap,
Led by Jesus as his sheep?
For when these blessed days are over
To the arms of my dear Savior
I shall be conveyed to rest.
Amen, yea, my lot is blessed.
Sharing in that same Resurrection hopefulness are the people who miss her most: her husband, LeRoy E. Sobania of The Villages, FL; daughter, Christine (Darrell) Johnson of Bethlehem, PA; daughter, Catherine Sobania of Holmen, WI; grandsons Andrew (fiancé, Ashley Caldwell) Johnson, Daniel Johnson, and Caleb Benson. Bonnie’s life will be celebrated with an in-person gathering when the pandemic has passed.
Online condolences may be said at www.baldwincremation.com.
Should you choose to make a memorial contribution in Bonnie’s name, please consider supporting the Mt. Morris Camp & Retreat Center (a Moravian Church entity), W6016 Blackhawk Rd., Wautoma, WI 54982.
Mr. Sobania - please know that I am thinking of you and sending positive thoughts and hugs. Chris and family - please know that she was so proud of you and loved you dearly. Bania - So many memories with our parents through athletic events and even as we moved to LaCrosse/Onalaska/Holmen. Thank you for sharing Mom with me and calling me when they would be in the area. I ALWAYS enjoyed time with them - especially when you were packing to move to Pennsylvania. Let me know if you need anything.
LOVE YOU ALL!!!