Sonja M. Clum

November 26, 1937 - October 11, 2014

Sonja Mae Hanson was born on November 26, 1937, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Dr. Gordon and Martha Hanson.

Sonja grew up in Wichita, Kansas, with her older brother David, younger sister Ruth, and youngest brother Bob.

She enjoyed playing the French horn and piano, her many friends and especially her family.

After graduating from East High School in Wichita in 1955, she attended Kansas State University to pursue a degree in Elementary Education. She belonged to the Chi Omega Sorority.

During the beginning of the second semester of her senior year at Kansas State in 1959 she was set up on a blind date for the UMOC (Ugly Man on Campus) Dance. The organizer of the dance, Lyle Clum, set up his oldest brother, Arnold Clum, with Sonja. Arnold had just returned from serving two years of active duty with the Army and had enrolled at Kansas State to pursue a Master’s Degree in counseling. Sonja’s first impression of Arnold was how handsome and kind he was to others, although she didn’t really appreciate the bolo tie he had worn! Arnold’s first impression of Sonja was she was beautiful, had a charming personality and someone he wanted to see again very soon! They immediately started to date and were engaged in April of 1959. They married on August 1, 1959 at Hillside Christian Church in Wichita.

Immediately after the wedding, they took all their belongings and moved to Denver, Colorado, where they both had teaching jobs waiting. Arnold was an industrial arts teacher at North High School, and Sonja was a 5th grade teacher at Slater Elementary School. Their first apartment was just blocks from North High School.

Right away they made lifelong friends and began settling into their new life together while enjoying all the outdoor opportunities Colorado offers like skiing, camping, hiking, and wildlife, especially birds.

On November 20, 1960, David Negley Clum was born. Sonja became a full- time mom and later, Christopher Arnold Clum was born on September 23, 1962.

Sonja and Arnold moved to the suburbs of Arvada, Colorado, to continue raising their boys. Sonja enjoyed being home with Dave and Chris and used her teaching and creative skills to make sure they had fun and enjoyed life. Sonja was a hockey mom before it was cool, attending Dave and Chris’ games as early as 4 am. She was also a den mother for cub scouts, and a leader for Camp Fire Girls.

In April of 1967, Sonja and Arnold adopted a four month old baby girl and named her Natasha. Sonja continued to stay home and raise three kids, enrolling them in music lessons, swimming, dance, soccer, and baseball. She also took them along while she delivered Meals on Wheels and other volunteer commitments.

She was active at their church, Arvada Presbyterian Church, which they attended until 1976.

In 1976 they began attending Redeemer Temple in Denver and again, Sonja made new friends, many of whom have been by her side during her illness.

In 1979 she resumed her teaching career at Jesus Center School teaching 6th grade.

Sonja took 1984 off from teaching so she could spend Tasha’s senior year at home with her.

She resumed teaching 6th grade at Jesus Center in 1985 and continued teaching until 1994. During that time, Jesus Center School moved to Arvada, just 4 blocks from their house, and became Faith Christian Academy.

Sonja’s circle of friends grew larger as she and Arnold began attending Faith Bible Chapel where she also taught Sunday school and was involved in women’s ministry groups.

Sonja enjoyed retirement immensely as it gave her more time with friends, family, projects, volunteering at the school, church, and the food bank. Sonja and Arnold spent much of their retirement years camping and traveling together, renewing older friendships, while starting new ones. With Sonja, once a friend, you were always a friend!

Sonja lived her life to glorify the Lord by loving others unconditionally and completely. She loved others by serving, caring and praying for them. Her non-stop optimism was contagious and empowering to many of us when we were discouraged. Through this process we have realized she touched lives beyond what we thought we knew. Her faith in Jesus and His promises enabled her to deal gracefully with the immense pain she felt during the brief period beginning with the cancer diagnosis until her passing. Even during that time, she worried more about how her friends and family were dealing with her cancer and imminent death than she was worried about her own sadness.

While her passing is leaving a gaping hole in our hearts and this community of people, we will celebrate her beautiful smile, her big heart, sense of humor, genuine happiness and love. We are forever grateful that the Lord loaned her to us for 76 years. We celebrate her as she would want us to by remembering moments with her and by continuing to enjoy family and friendships and all the beauty in the world. More than that, she would want us to celebrate that she is now in her permanent home, where she has been healed and is able to spend her time with old and new friends along with her family singing and being deeply satisfied resting in the arms of our King.

Sonja Mae Clum – She Loved Others Well

Sonja is survived by her husband of 55 years, Arnold Clum, her sons David (Cathy) Clum, and Chris (Kristy) Clum, and daughter Tasha (Layne) Weber, as well as 10 grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers David, Bob and sister Ruth.

A Visitation will be on Sunday Oct.19, 2014 from 2-5pm at Olinger Crown Hill,( W. 29th Ave. and Wadsworth).

Sonja will be laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery in a private ceremony.

Her Celebration of Life will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at Faith Bible Chapel, Family Worship Center- West Campus, 6250 Wright Street, Arvada, CO 80004.

The family suggests donations be made to:

Experience Mission – Education Initiative

PO box 719

Port Hadlock, 90339, http://experiencemission.org/display.asp?page=donatelanding

or:

Youth for Christ/USA – in memory of Sonja Clum (money will be used to help the Wichita City Life Program and provide camp scholarships)

PO Box 4478

Englewood, CO 80155, https://securegive.yfc.net/sslpage.aspx?pid=377