At his home in Echo on Aug. 22, 2024, Robert Eric Sonnenburg Jr., known as Eric (Erik as he liked to spell it) graduated to heaven after a 10-month battle with rapidly progressing ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Lou Gehrig disease). Erik’s life as an adult was a love song to Jesus. He experienced a lot of challenging times, and his testimony is that his faith in God never wavered.
Erik was born on Sept. 21, 1962 in Long Island, N.Y. to Robert E. Sonnenburg Sr. and Patricia Ann Molin Sonnenburg.
Erik spent most of his childhood in Merced, Calif., where he loved riding horses and participating in FFA. Just prior to his senior year of high school, he moved to Brookings. He graduated from Brookings Harbor High in 1981. He encountered Jesus in 1982 which changed his trajectory. He then joined the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif. He spent time in the Philippines and Japan and on the Pacific. He loved being an 0331-machine gunner! His claim to fame in the Marines is that he could outrun anyone in his platoon.
After serving his country, Erik came back to Brookings. There he worked as an auto mechanic, then found his way into the woods. He was proud of his work as a choker setter and rigging slinger. He told of how the wood boss said no one got more logs onto the landing than Sonnenburg, and he wished he had 10 of those Sonnenburgs.
In 1985 Erik married Shawna Emig. They had three wonderful boys, Robert Eric Sonnenburg III (Bobby), Forrest and Sterling. In 1995, Erik convinced his family to start their grand adventure to Alaska. From Prince of Wales Island to Fairbanks, Erik was proud to become an Alaskan. His greatest joys were teaching the boys to skateboard and taking them shooting at the “pit.” Erik worked at Fort Knox Gold Mine for several years, then transitioned into utility work for the city of North Pole. Erik and Shawna divorced in 2006, and Erik
stayed in Alaska with Forrest. In 2011 his sisters introduced him to the love of his life, Joan Ann Peak (Van Cleave). His pickup line was, “I am not satisfied with average Christianity.” They married in August 2011. He left Alaska for Joan, moving to Roseburg. In Roseburg, he enjoyed hunting on their property, working for the forest service at Toketee Ranger Station, and being near family. Mostly, he loved going to the Oregon coast and flying kites. He became a member of Garden Valley Church and attended their school of supernatural ministry. One of his greatest joys was going on treasure hunts and praying for people. Erik experienced a difficult loss in February 2013 when Bobby was killed in an Army training accident at Fort Irwin National Training Center in California. After five years in Oregon, Erik had to go back to Alaska. He was happy to be near Forrest and go back to the city of North Pole for work. Erik and Joan stayed in Alaska until the fall of 2021 when they returned to Oregon after an employment change for Joan.
Living in Eastern Oregon the last few years brought them many adventures. Erik found a love of kayaking and camping. On many summer afternoons you could find Erik and Joan on one of the lakes or reservoirs. Always was his love of the beach. He would say the beach was only a short six-hour drive so a weekend trip was great.
Erik lived with joy and hope for the kingdom of heaven to come be here on earth as it is in heaven. Whether he was at a church, brewery, winery, campground or beach, he would share his belief and faith in Jesus. During this past year, Erik was not able to go to the beach or get out to kayak, so he enjoyed going to a few local wineries where he made great friends. Echo Ridge Cellars became his “Cheers.” He even had his own table and parking space! Special thank you to his amazing support team there (Kim, Jay, Tony, Berlyn, Christy, and Blake). The last seven weeks of his life, Erik became very close to his caregiver, Ky Pace. She learned to speak “Erik.” She said his eyes could tell a thousand stories. He wanted to adopt her as a granddaughter. During this journey of ALS, Erik’s life spoke to so many people, wherever the couple went.
Through it all, he continued to give God the glory. His message to Joan was trust God.
Erik is survived by his wife, Joan Ann Sonnenburg of Echo; sons, Forrest Sonnenburg, Fairbanks, Alaska and Sterling Sonnenburg, Springfield; his mother, Patricia Ann Sonnenburg, Roseburg; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sandra (Dave) Hansen, Suzy (Jon) McAmis, and Lori Claire Blakenship; stepchildren, Michael (Monica) Peak and Kimberly Peak; and four beautiful step grandchildren, Damon, Colette, Alexis and Wesley. He is also survived by multiple nieces and nephews who love him very much with their significant others and children, Breez, Tiffany, Summer, Christopher, Stephen, Lindsey, and Chase; Aunt Sandra Sue Sonnenburg, Uncle Bob (Becky) Bazemore, and cousins, Shelly, Robert Andrew, Lisa, Stacy and Cindy; mother-in-law, Anna Van Cleave; sisters-in-law, Janielle Still and Susan Burkhart, and many other friends and family.
Erik was preceded in death by his father, Robert E. Sonnenburg Sr. (1983) and son, Robert E. Sonnenburg, III (2013).
All his family and friends are invited to a celebration of life on Sept. 8, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the Echo Ridge Cellars winery in Echo.
In lieu of flowers, Joan is asking for an indoor or outdoor plant she can cherish in memory of Erik.
Please share memories of Erik with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
