ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP HONORS LIFE OF SONJA SWIGGUM posted 7/6/05

Sonja with her son Aaron, at his graduation from Adrian College in 1999.

It is with great sadness that Adrian College announces the death of Sonja Swiggum. Sonja worked at the College for over 30 years, including more than 20 years as secretary to the president. She will be dearly missed.

In gratitude for all that she did for the College, including serving for many years as the Assistant Secretary of the Board of Trustees, the board authorized the creation of an endowed scholarship in her name.

According to her obituary, Sonja Annette Swiggum, age 58, of Adrian, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2005, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born Nov. 24, 1946, in Durand, WI, to Sidney and Inez (Tollefson) Lee. On Aug. 27, 1966, she married Dennis Swiggum in Blair, WI., and he survives.

Sonja was employed by Adrian College for over 30 years and during that time served as Secretary to the President. She was a member of Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, where she had been director of the youth and the adult choirs. She also was a charter member of the Lenawee Chapter International Assoc. of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and she was active in the Lenawee Community Chorus.

In addition to her husband, Dennis, she is survived by her parents, Sidney and Inez Lee of Onalaska, WI; one son, Aaron Swiggum and his wife, Amanda of Adrian; two brothers, Dennis Lee and his wife, Debra of Hudson, WI and Donald Lee and his wife, Lynette of LaCrosse, WI; two sisters, LaVonne Olson and her husband, Calvin, of Apple Valley, MN, and Faye Thielke and her husband, Thomas of Crandon, WI; her granddaughter, Lauren Sophia Swiggum; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Troy Dale Swiggum in 1986.

Funeral services for Sonja will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2005, at 11 a.m. at the Herrick Chapel on the campus of Adrian College with Reverend Richard Rentner officiating. Burial will be in Lenawee Hills Memorial Gardens in Tecumseh. Visitation will be held today from 6-8 p.m. and also on Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society. Envelopes are available at the Anderson Funeral Home.

NOTE: If you would like to contribute to the Sonja Swiggum Scholarship, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 517-264-3168 or wkenyon@adrian.edu. Checks should be payable to “Adrian College” with a note specifying the “Sonja Swiggum Scholarship.”