The memorial service for Carl Nicholas Sonksen will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at the United Methodist Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. John Bromeland will officiate. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Carl died Saturday, May 14, 2005, at Albert Lea Medical Center. He was 82 years old.

Carl was born in Germany on Dec. 23, 1922, the son of August and Helene (Tomsen) Sonksen. Carl’s mother died when he was four years old and at the age of seven he and his father, grandmother and sister, Kate, immigrated to America. They settled in Iowa for two years, then Walters, and finally to Albert Lea in 1938.

Carl attended school in Walters.

On July 11, 1943, Carl was united in marriage with Mary Booen at the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea. He was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church where he was a charter member of the men’s club, and church volunteer for Loaves and Fishes.

Carl and Mary owned and operated the lunch room for Rilco Lumber Co for two years, and in 1948 bought a restaurant in Alden and operated it until 1954. He worked for Wilson & Co from 1958 until his retirement in 1972.

Carl was a proud member of

AA for 28 years and had served as president of the Life Club. The best years of his life were from 1977-92 when he as a driver escorting people to the

Fountain Lake treatment center, and lecturing once a week for various gatherings. He drove over a quarter of a million miles for the center.

Carl did refinishing and repairing of antique furniture. He enjoyed fishing, yard work, flower gardening, playing cards with his AA friends for 20 years, and having daily morning coffee with friends at the Donut Hut.

His grandchildren and great-grandchildren meant the world to him and he was an inspiration to his family and friends.

Carl is survived by his wife, Mary of Albert Lea; two daughters: Carla Fjeldberg of Albert Lea, and Joan Petersen of Cedar Park, Texas; five grandchildren:

Todd (Kari) Fjeldberg, Tracy (Michelle) Fjeldberg, Tony (Shelley) Fjeldberg, Maridith (Jeff) Jones, and Nick (Robbie) Petersen; eight great-grandchildren:

Tori, Jared, Colby, and Kendrick Fjeldberg, Jenny, Jeff Jr. and Justin Jones, and Mike Gray; one brother, Ed (Peggy) Sonksen of St. Paul; three sisters: Marianne DePoppe of Albert Lea, Pauline (Maynard) Olson of Emmons, and Shirley (Ray) Tukua of Colorado Springs, CO; brother-in-law, Sherm Booen; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; mother, Elsie; sister, Kate Babbitt; two sons-in-law:

David Fjeldberg and Dennis Petersen; mother- and father-in-law, Ralph and Gae Booen; sister-in-law, Mavis Booen; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Shirley (Dorothy) Booen; and brother-in-law; Donald DePoppe.