Sonja Irmgard Thekla Nutini

My beautiful mother, Sonja Irmgard Thekla Nutini, passed away peacefully in my arms on February 1, 2025. Mom was always pretty, full of grace and lots of grit, right up to her last words, “Be kind.” I promise to be kind right here, for all the world to know you, mom.

My mother rests in the presence of the Lord, Holy Mother Mary, her beloved husband of 61 years, Edward William Nutini, her mother, father, brother, and loved ones who have gone before her.

A month or so before mom passed, we looked at her birth certificate again and I asked about the middle name, Thekla. After 93 years mom never knew why she was given the name, or anyone in the family by that name. But after researching the origin, she was pleasantly surprised to know that Thekla meant ‘Glory of God’. Mom, you were my glory as well, and all the world to me.

Mom was born in Hanover, Germany to Margaret and Erwin Lohmann, followed by brothers and sister Kurt, Ingrid and Thomas, respectively. As WWII began to emerge, the Lohmann family had to move to different locations in Germany and finally settled in Heidelberg where my mother attended the University of Heidelberg.

As a young woman, mom worked at the PX at Patrick Henry Village, outside of Heidelberg. There she met and married an American soldier, 12 years her senior, U.S. Army MSgt Ed Nutini. They were stationed back to the United States and had one child, Karen.

When my mother went before the judge to finalize her naturalization paperwork, the judge asked her what July 4th meant. She couldn’t remember ‘Independence Day’ but said, “Freedom Day”. The judge smiled and said that was good enough for him.

After dad retired from the U.S. Army in New York state, they moved back to El Paso, Texas where he had briefly been stationed at Fort Bliss.

My mother loved being an American. She loved having opportunities to succeed. Mom became a successful real estate broker, owning her company and achieving numerous awards for her achievements.

After mom retired, she and dad, and Maxeen the white shepherd, moved north to Denver, Colorado to build their new home and be closer to sister Ingrid and Ingrid’s daughter, Michelle. Twelve years later Ed Nutini passed away in the home they both built, just days before his 94th birthday.

Afterward, my mother moved to her new home in Virginia to be close to her daughter, Karen. Twelve years later mom passed away just days before her 94th birthday. Though they were 12 years apart in age, they both passed away in my arms at the age of 93, just days before their next birthday.

Mom was respected for her strength to overcome her severe health setbacks, her unconditional love, kindness, compassion and strong belief in ‘live and let live’.

A visitation for Sonja will be held Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Olinger Highland Mortuary, 10401 Grant Street, Thornton, CO 80229. A funeral service will occur Friday, March 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM also at Olinger Highland Mortuary. Sonja will be laid to rest on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W Kenyon Ave, Denver, CO 80236.