Gilbert Sonner
February 12, 2017
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Service Details
Gilbert “Gil” Sonner, 82, passed away on February 12, 2017, at Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines. He was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa on October 17, 1934, to Donald and Josephine Sonner.
Gilbert graduated from Woodside High School in Des Moines and was united in marriage to Yvonne Lingle on October 21, 1955. Gilbert was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
Gil’s lifelong passion was sprint car racing. His greatest joy came from time spent at the race track and with his family. He owned and operated Gil’s Auto Service from 1955-93 and Strange Performance from 1979 until his passing. He was inducted into the Knoxville Hall of Fame in 1986 as well as the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2015.
Gilbert is survived by his children, Don (Debby) Sonner, Audrey (Chuck) Milosevic, and Cindy (Daryl) Saucier; grandchildren, Cory (Toni) Sonner, Chad Milosevic, and Paige Milosevic; great-grandchildren, Brynnlee Sonner and Chayton Sonner; as well as other loving family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne; parents, and brother, Burton Sonner.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines with burial to follow at Berwick Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday evening at the funeral home from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in loving memory of Gilbert.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Jerry and Diana Kennedy
02/16/2017
We were so sorry to hear about Gil's passing. He was an amazing person and will be very missed . Your whole family is in our prayers. He was such a kind and loving person . He was so proud of his family .
Jerry Potter
02/16/2017
Sorry to hear about your loss. Won't be able to attend the service but will keep you in our prayers.
Mark & Meris Sewak
02/16/2017
Audrey, Cindy, and Donnie, we feel for you loss. We met your dad in Knoxville and would meet him when he came east and to Florida. We gained much from his presence and wit, as well. Learned about peace, consistency and that each day is good and hope for the best.
Patrick Mackey
02/16/2017
Donny, our sincere condolences to you and you family. Gil and Dad (B.A.) were friends for many years. I always looked forward to getting to go with Dad to your shop. I even remember Gil helping me one year, when I was young, with a science fair project. I still have the trophy and that was almost 50 years ago. You are all in our prayers.
Pat Mackey
Kw, Annie & Tammy Woodruff
02/16/2017
Our sincere condolences to the Sonner family. May God bless you and give you peace at this difficult time. Heaven has gained a special angel with lots of racing stories.
Love you Cindy..
Bruce Blome
02/15/2017
Don, Audrey and Cindy, my sincere condolences on the passing of your Dad. Gilbert and Yvonne were good friends. It is an Honor to call Gilbert My Best Friend. Gilbert, Yvonne, Don, Audrey, Cindy and Families, May God Bless You, Keep You and Give You His Peace. Gilly it is not good-bye it is till we meet again some day. Bruce
Steve Waldron
02/15/2017
Audrey and family..So sorry to hear about your dad passing away. He was one of the kindest people I have ever met and so much of an influence to a lot of us growing up. The A feature during Nationals with the 47 in the line up still makes me smile even at this time of sorrow.
Jeff & Christi Woodruff
02/15/2017
Our deepest sympathies to Donnie, Audrey and Cindy and all the Sonner family. So Sorry to here about Gilly passing on he was an amazing man with a heart as big as any race track in the world and a never failing smile. We will miss seeing him tooling around the pits on his golf cart.
Jane Sheets Pauley MacDonald
02/15/2017
So sorry to here this news. Gilbert meant alot to our family. My son Brian Pauley (hung out with dad Ron) at Gilberts garage..and he was just a year old. Good memories! Our thoughts are with the family.
Mike Dyer
02/15/2017
Simple and sincerely heartfelt words, Donnie, Audrey and Cindy.
A big part of my growing up your Dad was a man I was proud to know.
Deb Anderson Vogel
02/15/2017
Cindy, Audrey and Donny, I am so sorry for the loss of your dad! Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time. I am sorry I will not be able to make it to the viewing or funeral, but please know you will all be in my thoughts! God be with you all!
Matt Brown
02/15/2017
The world has lost an all around good guy. He is one of the people that I have had the honor of knowing in my life. The Earth has lost a good guy but heaven has gained a Angel.
Jim Brown
02/14/2017
Your dad was one of the few good guys . My life was much richer for knowing him and the world is much better for having him in it. God be with you all.
Randy Thompson
02/14/2017
I've never met a more kind and generous man in my life if every man on Earth was a Gil Sonner, What a Wonderful World it would be rest in peace my friend
Denny Peterson
02/13/2017
Io Audrey, Donnie & Cindy -- It's hard to deal with a death any time, but when it's a racing friend makes it even harder. To many of my racing friends have gone in the last couple years. Your Dad has joined the best of them. They're all talking race stories. God be with you all at this time.