Sonya Christine Zieske

A memorial service for Sonya will be held Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 507 W. Powell Blvd., Gresham, Oregon.

Sonya Christine Zieske, nee Hagen, entered this world on February 29, 1948 and departed it on June 25, 2023.

Born to Harris and Annice Hagen in the small town of Hendricks in western Minnesota, Sonya grew up on her parents’ farm just across the state line in South Dakota. She started her education in a rural, one-room schoolhouse and graduated from high school in Hendricks. She attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis majoring in elementary education and minoring in music. She attained her Masters in Education, with a focus on Talented and Gifted and Special Education, at the University of Colorado.

After graduation from Augsburg, Sonya married Curtis Zieske on August 1, 1970, while he was in his second year at Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary) in St. Paul, MN. Together she and Curtis served congregations in WA, OR, CO, and MN—completing 50 years of church service back in OR where Curtis first started as an intern in Gresham.

As often as she could, Sonya put her teaching skills to work. She loved teaching elementary school children and was particularly gifted in doing so, providing guidance and a solid start with a firm but kind and gentle hand. Her work earned her lifetime connections with both students and parents. As she gained wisdom and experience, Sonya put her unique talents to work in further ways by contributing to such things as the development of curriculum for gifted and talented students and overseeing and administering a program for teacher development and professional growth. Always, everywhere, she served as a mentor to both students and teachers.

As helpmeet to Curtis in his years of parish ministry, Sonya often provided a ministry of music of her own, playing both piano and organ to the glory of God at church services, youth events, and fellowship activities. Using her educational skills, she developed Sunday School and Vacation Bible School programs and, most recently, worked with the Oregon Synod’s leadership to organize a Synod Assembly program that each year formally recognizes the service of pastors whose ministries span 25 years or more, every year publicly marking these milestones in 5 year increments.

As Sonya and Curtis moved from parish to parish and residence to residence, Sonya made every new house a warm and inviting home. She had an eye for color and decoration without ever over-cluttering. Clean lines and carefully positioned focal points defined her style. Sonya was a hostess extraordinaire, truly gifted at the art of hospitality, and loved welcoming family and friends, both old and new.

Sonya touched the lives of hundreds of people: students, former students, church youth, congregants of all ages and walks of life, friends and neighbors she met along life’s way. Many, many of these people kept in touch for years afterwards. Over the course of her long, productive life, wherever she and Curtis served, Sonya inserted herself seamlessly into congregational life and impacted every church they served. She leaves behind a legacy of faithfulness, service, and love that etches her name in the memory of all who knew her.

Sonya is survived by her husband of nearly 53 years, the Reverend Curtis L. Zieske, retired; daughter Sarah (Jason) Kruger and children Elijah and Maya, son Aaron (Sara) and children Margot and Darwin, sister Carol (Jim) Robertson, brother-in-law David (Chris) Zieske, sister-in-law Peggy (Murat) Shekem, godchildren Nathan (Deana) and Jihan (James) Udall, cousins, and many, many friends.

Sonya was a devoted mother and wife. Her children rise up to call her blessed; her husband found her worth beyond rubies. Hearts on earth grieve; saints and angels above sing her home.

Donations can be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment fund.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Zieske family.