Sonja was born on 13 August 1922 on Staten Island, NY, to the late Waldemar and Kaethe Wingert Muller. She graduated from Curtis High School on Staten Island in 1940, attended Wagner College and New York University, and later graduated from the Staten Island School of Nursing in 1943 (her nursing Internship was completed at the Columbia Presbyterian Babies Hospital in New York City). Sonja served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War II. On 14 February 1943, she was united in marriage to Donald P. Landvogt of Staten Island, NY, at Fort Monmouth, NJ. They lived for many years in Westchester County, NY, and in Dunedin/New Port Richey, FL, before moving to Williamsburg in 2000.
After the war, Sonja returned to civilian life, and was a devoted wife and mother. She continued her nursing career after moving to White Plains, NY, where she worked for many years in local doctor’s offices, at White Plains Hospital, and at IBM Corporate Headquarters. She retired from IBM in 1978. While living in NY, Sonja served as the President of the Pleasantville Women’s Club and on the Board of Directors of the Westchester County Federation of Women’s Clubs. She and her husband enjoyed sailing, and for many years were members of the City Island Yacht Club, City Island, NY.
In 1978, Sonja and Don retired to Dunedin, FL, where she served as President of the Church Women of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and as President of the Suncoast Conference of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. In addition, Sonja served as Chairperson of the Southwest Florida Lutheran Church Women to PONTIFAX, an ecumenical organization dedicated to Christian unity. When not spending time in volunteer service, Sonja enjoyed baking, and arts and crafts. She and her husband were active members of the Dunedin Country Club, Dunedin, FL. Patriotic, and proud of her military service, Sonja was a Charter Member of the “Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation” at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sonja is survived by son Thomas (Lola) of Williamsburg, VA; daughter Kathleen of Providence Forge, VA; and daughter Barbara (Jack) of Dingman’s Ferry, PA, five grandchildren: Jennifer Politi (Carmel, NY), Chapin Landvogt (Hamburg, Germany), Katherine Bonney (Fishkill, NY), Erica Meehan (Lansdale, PA), and Lindsay Leahy (Burke, VA), and 10 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister, Irene Merrick (Tinton Falls, NJ), and sisters-in-law Elba Landvogt (Staten Island, NY), Evelyn Viafora (Alpharetta, GA), and Virginia Johnston (Three Bridges, NJ), as well as several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Sonja was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Donald Landvogt, and by her brother, Ragnwald Muller.
A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, 28 Sep. 2018, at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 612 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Nelsen Funeral Home (757 565-1141) is handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Sonja’s name to St. Stephen Lutheran Church, or to the Women’s Memorial Foundation, Dept. 560, Washington, DC 20042-0560 (www.womensmemorial.org).
