MENDOTA - Kenneth “Kenny” E. Sondgeroth, 82, of Mendota passed away July 18, 2020 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 23 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Mendota with Rev. Peter Pilon officiating. Burial will follow at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery Peterstown. Full military rites will be provided by Mendota V.F.W. Post 4079. Please abide by social distancing guidelines and wear a mask. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22 at the Wasmer Funeral Home, Mendota. Due to COVID, the family requests that masks are worn and social distancing practiced. Adherence to the 50-person rule will be enforced.

Pallbearers will be Todd Haan, Bart, Byron, Brock, Blake, Lucas and Reid Sondgeroth.

Ken was born Nov. 26, 1937 in LaSalle to William V.J. and Bernardine A. (Didier) Sondgeroth. He married the love of his life, Joyce L. Scriba on Aug. 20, 1960 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Arlington.

Survivors include his wife of Mendota; one daughter, Brenda (Todd) Haan of Morrison; three sons, Bart (Cindy) Sondgeroth of Arlington, Byron (Suzan) Sondgeroth of Mapleton and Brock (Kim) Sondgeroth of Ottawa; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Susan Lewis of LaMoille and Marilee (Michael) Meuser of Ladd; five brothers, Keith (Lynne) Sondgeroth of Byron, Vernon (Mary) Sondgeroth of Princeton, Gary (Margaret) Sondgeroth of Peru, Mark (Sheila) Sondgeroth of Malden and Richard Sondgeroth of Mendota; and two sisters-in-law, Donna Sondgeroth and Lillian Sondgeroth.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Dennis Sondgeroth and Gerald Sondgeroth; one sister, Sr. Mary Luke Sondgeroth; and a brother-in-law, Jerry Lewis.

Kenny graduated from St. Bede Academy in 1956 and two weeks later joined the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Okinawa, serving from 1956-58. He worked at many grocery stores as a young man. He was a furniture salesman for Gambel’s in Mendota, where he met his bride-to-be, and also worked as a foreman at Ag Builders for many years. He, along with Joyce, ran their reupholstery business, KNJ in the LaMoille and Arlington areas until the 1990s. Ken then sold furniture at Turk’s and Lay’s until his retirement. He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, American Legion Post 1043, and served as a member and president of the LaMoille District 303 Board of Education for well over a decade. He was particularly proud to be a charter member of the LaMoille Lions Club where he served as treasurer for many years.

Memorials may be directed to Mendota Area Senior Services or LaMoille Lions Club.

Online condolences may be left at wasmerfuneralhome.com and cards may be mailed in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 192, Mendota, IL 61342.