In 1941, the family moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma and then in 1943 they relocated one more time to Worthington, Minnesota. Worthington was Alfred’s hometown and Sonnie grew up there with her family. Sonnie attended Worthington Grade School, Worthington Junior High and Worthington High School where she graduated in 1957.
During her schooling, she was active in gymnastics, orchestra and band where she played both oboe and saxophone. Sonnie also enjoyed choir and drama. She loved literature and was drawn to all the arts. She was an accomplished, prize-winning equestrian at a young age. During her high school summers, she attended the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan as an art major. She was raised in the Episcopal Church.
Upon graduation from high school, Sonnie spent her freshman year at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont. Following the end of her freshman year there, she transferred to the University of Michigan where she majored in art and design.
While attending The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Sonnie met her future husband James M. Zapinski. James studied English literature. They married in the fall of 1963 in Oswego, New York after moving there for a teaching position that Jim had accepted at the university.
Sonnie gave birth to her first son Eric in October of 1964. The following year, Sonnie and Jim moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There, Sonnie gave birth to Kurt in March of 1967 and the Kyle in April of 1968.
Sonnie’s greatest joys in life were her three boys, art and music. During a good portion of the 1970’s, Sonnie and her family lived on a farm in the Wisconsin countryside not far from Menomonee Falls. On “the farm”, Sonnie enjoyed the time and freedom to express herself creatively in her art studio, which was a small building attached to the main farmhouse. The years spent on the farm were some of the happiest times for Sonnie and her family.
Sonnie and her family moved to Interlochen, Michigan for a time, but eventually returned to the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and bought a home in Brookfield. After several years, Sonnie and James divorced. Sonnie moved to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and James and the children relocated to Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
Later in life, Sonnie went back to school to complete her education. When she was through, Sonnie had earned her Master of Science degree in Art Therapy from Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sonnie was a board certified licensed professional art therapist for the remainder of her professional career.
In the latter part of her career as a therapist, Sonnie moved to Denver, Colorado in order to be closer to her adult children. Sonnie’s last career position was as an art therapist at Clermont Park, a Christian Living Community in Denver. There, as in her previous positions, Sonnie enriched the lives of the residents through the therapeutic aspects of art and music.
Sonnie lived a long and fulfilling life. She was loved by her children and former husband. She also had a lifelong love affair with the arts and culture. Her passion for the arts and music enriched not only her life, but the lives of all those she touched.
Sonnie Albinson passed peacefully on November 21, 2020.
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