Gary Alan Sonke

“All the people danced in the streets the day Gary Sonke was born” – at least according to 7-year old Gary. He didn’t realize his siblings heard this comment and they never let him forget it. We all can agree that his was a life well-lived and will long be remembered by those he loved and the many lives he touched.

Gary was born on June 15, 1954, to Virginia and Taylor Sonke of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He had a fun and loving childhood growing up with two older brothers, Jim and Steve, and a younger sister, Laurie, in a neighborhood full of children. Winters were spent playing informal ice hockey games in the backyard and summers always included time relaxing at a Lake Michigan cottage in the Glen Arbor area.

Gary is an alumni of Michigan State University where he graduated with a degree in criminal justice. His career centered around the law and included twenty years as the Firm Administrator of Stock and Leader, a law firm in York, Pennsylvania. Gary made his mark there by spearheading the $5 million Susquehanna Commerce Center construction project and he became a leader in downtown York’s public safety and economic development initiatives. Building and maintaining great relationships was always the foundation of his many accomplishments.

It was while working in York that Gary met Ruth, the love of his life, who became his partner in adventures great and small. Gary shared with Ruth his love of boating and they spent many hours cruising the Chesapeake Bay in their 34’ yacht and hanging out at the dock making friends with the boating community of nearby Annapolis. Ruth shared with Gary her love of horses and elite dressage riding. If you ever spoke to Gary for more than five minutes, you were sure to hear his pride in his wife's considerable talent and the great joy she brought to his life.

Upon retirement, they moved to Perry Park, Colorado and began exploring the mountains around Denver together by four-wheel drive SUVs as well as e-bikes. Gary especially loved studying the history and exploring the many ghost towns in the area, a topic that had initially caught his interest as a child. Being an avid supporter of Ruth’s interest in horses, he could often be found helping out with chores at the horse barn. Together they made wonderful friends and enjoyed being an active part of their local community. This included joining and supporting the Perry Park Country Club as social members, where Gary only rarely dabbled in a game of golf but enjoyed serving on various committees. Their travel outside the country was to visit Ruth’s family in Germany.

Gary has always been known as a “Car Guy” and his preference for white cars throughout his life meant he kept them pristine and gleaming. He loved clean cars so much that rinsing daily was a routine and he even helped others get the shine back for their own vehicles. He really surprised all of us by going orange with his most recent vehicle, a gorgeous sporty “dragon orange” Audi RS Q8 that turned heads and gathered compliments everywhere he went. His cars were his pride and joy, and it was always a good idea to buckle up when you were a passenger, because he sure knew how to get the most out of them!

Gary’s favorite spot on earth was the lovely Colorado home he shared with Ruth. And his favorite perch there was the upper deck where he would enjoy daily sunrise and sunsets, keep tabs on the birds visiting his feeders and observe the many herds of deer that would freely pass through the neighborhood. This was also his favorite reading nook where he renewed his study of the Christian Science religion, having attended Sunday School as a boy. He eventually joined the Christian Science church in Littleton and had recently been serving as the librarian of its downtown Reading Room. His spiritual growth over the years was evident to all who knew him well.

Gary was a fine man and those who knew him feel fortunate to have had his love, friendship, guidance, humor and presence touch their lives. He had the gift of making everyone feel seen and heard as if they were sitting at the proverbial “cool kids” table with him. His steadfast devotion to Ruth as well as family and friends was an inspiring example to many.

Gary is survived by his dear wife Ruth – knowing and loving her was the great success story of his life. His brother, James Sonke and sister Laurie Klooster still live in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. Ruth’s family in Germany, her mother Erlfriede Dürschl, sister Eva Maria Näher and brother Thomas Dürschl are cherishing great memories of wonderful visits. And there’s a large extended family of Gary devotees, both by relation as well as through friendship, who are located far and wide. We feel honored to have known Gary and will long remember the laughter and joy that this wonderful man brought to our lives.

God's Lovely Likeness

a poem by Thomas O. Poyser

Published in the July 1992 Christian Science Journal

I know that where you are God is,

Since He is everywhere.

And being everywhere, He is where I am, too.

Then since you and I are ever in God's presence,

We can never be apart: apart from Him —

Or apart from all He gives. To know this

Brings comfort where sadness otherwise would rule.

So when sorrow would steal away my peace,

I give up what I cannot keep

To cherish and rejoice over what I cannot lose.

With this, the stillness all about me comes to life

With sweet assurance that God's lovely likeness

Whom I have known as you, is here and now —

Just as you have ever been.