Sonia Lynn (Cook) Stielow

Tribute service for Sonia Lynn (Cook) Stielow, 37, Lawrence will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 25, 2015 at First Christian Church. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Sonia passed away Saturday, July 18, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO.

Sonia was born December 27, 1977 in Lawrence the daughter of Harold D. and Muriel D. (Logan) Cook.

She was a member of the First Christian Church where she was the nursery caregiver, D-team leader and youth volunteer. Attended Kansas City Community College. She was also a member of the amputee coalition. She also volunteered at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and worked as a trainer for McDonalds Restaurant.

Sonia mentored a host of families and their children.

She married Matthew “Matt” Stielow on March 28, 2015 in Lawrence. He survives of the home.

Other survivors include her parents, Harold and Muriel Cook, Lawrence; two sisters, Adrienne Cook (Sam) Ekanim, Arlington, TX, Dianne Y. Cook Johnson, Kansas City, MO; one brother, Taylor Scott, Sterling, VA; niece, Angelica G. Hicks; nephew, Harold E. Hicks; a host of uncles and aunts; two stepchildren Travis Stielow, Rebecca Stielow, Topeka KS, and her adopted family, Dena Kucza and boys, Malachi, Matthias, Jasiah, all of Lawrence. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Grace Logan; and paternal grandparents, James and Ernestine Hilliard.

The family will greet friends prior to the service from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the church. She will lie-in-state Friday from noon – 6 p.m.at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her name to help the family with funeral expenses and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

24 Condolences

  1. Lucy Walker on July 21, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    I am saddened by the loss of your love one. I’ve been knowing the Cook family since I was a young girl. My prayers are with your family.



  2. Valerie Johnson on July 21, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    My thoughts and prayers are with the Cook family.



  3. Kim Powell on July 21, 2015 at 12:52 pm

    Thoughts and prayers are with the Cook family. Sonia was such a strong and loving person. Her sudden passing is a shock to all who knew her. We know she is dancing with the angels in heaven today totally healed with no pain. She will be greatly missed.



  4. Louise Johnson on July 21, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    I was saddened to hear about Sonia, but God wanted a beautiful bouquet of flowers, so he decided to pick Sonia…



  5. Callee Souders on July 22, 2015 at 8:43 am

    Sonia will forever hold a special place in our lives. Her gentle demeanor and servant’s heart full of witness for the greatest gifts of the Lord, will forever be an imprint in my life. The grace and kind nature that surrounded Sonia’s soul and her everlasting strength to endure even the toughest of times is admirable and truly shows how special she was. God blessed us all with her presence and he simply left us all a small piece of her when we remember her high pitched giggle or “Oh LORDY!” The countless babies that she has raised, youth that she counseled and families that she has taken in, is a true testament to the massive amount of love that she had to share. I could write a novel and not even begin to come close to sharing all of the wonderful things Sonia has brought many of our lives. At times when we are of the most influential age in youth group, slowly trying to discover who we are in God’s light and who we are in this world, Sonia was a pillar of strength and knowledge. She pushed you to look deep within and find the person you were meant to be without passing judgement; she was a true Christian in every sense of the word and one that is forever missed. Peace be with you and yours as you navigate the feelings of loss; while we don’t always understand his purpose, I do know that she fulfilled hers to fullest every day that she was here.



  6. connie evans on July 22, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    So sorry for your loss, prayers for all of you.



  7. tanya robb on July 22, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    Prayers for the cook family during this difficult time. I did not know Sonia, but worked with Malachi during the indian taco sale. I am sure she will be greatly missed by many people.



  8. Hollie Schmidt on July 22, 2015 at 4:03 pm

    I am so sorry to hear of Sonia’s passing. She was always such a warm and loving person. Your family will be in my prayers.



  9. Kathy Willis on July 22, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Sonia was a very kind lady with such a good heart! She will be missed.



  10. Claudette Ross & Chuck Jarrett on July 22, 2015 at 9:50 pm

    To the Family:
    Though your hearts are saddened by the passing of your love one, may the grace of God comfort you and Sonia’s spirit and love live on in your hearts. God Bless.



  11. LEO & GLENDA SOUDERS on July 22, 2015 at 10:50 pm

    Harold and Muriel,

    May God wrap you and your family in his hands and comfort each of you during this time of sadness. You two blessed us with such an Angelic Spirit with an old soul that left such an imprint on all of us. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful daughter as she taught us things in life, and continues to teach us from Heaven.

    May God bless both of you, as well as Matt during these up coming months and we pray you find peace in the memories she left behind for all to share.

    Leo & Glenda Souders



  12. John Espy on July 23, 2015 at 12:57 am

    The New Testament urges us to be “rich in good deeds” (1 Timothy 6:18) and to “abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Sonia has lived this out. She had a passion to share the healing love of Jesus with everyone she met.

    How often I remember, at Peaceways or Youth Group, our best plans coming up short — and then we’d hear Sonia’s hearty laugh and her comment, “That’s not good.” Well, Sonia, look at your life, your walk, your heart. THAT’s good.



  13. Kathy (Lewis) Proctor on July 23, 2015 at 12:31 pm

    Harold, Muriel, and family:

    I am so sorry to hear of Sonia’s passing. She and I became friends while serving in Peaceways, and she was such a treasure, a true representative of God’s love. I can’t even begin to know the sadness you feel as her family, but you are in my thoughts and prayers. God gives us all strength to get through things that we don’t think we can…as Sonia exemplified all through her life and witnessed to many others. My sympathy and prayers for God’s love, strength, and healing of your hearts. She will be greatly missed. Thanks for the friendship and many wonderful memories, Sonia. You were such a blessing.



  14. bessie gaul on July 23, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    Murial..You and Harold are in my prayers, you have my condolences. From your family in Boston.



  15. Charlene galloway on July 23, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    sonia always had a smile that was worth a million dollars she had a heart of gold willing to help anyone that she could I attend kckcc with her my god bless and keep all of u Tthis time



  16. Patty Crain on July 24, 2015 at 7:47 am

    I send my sympathy to the Cook family, God be with your family in this loss. Sonia will be missed.



  17. Del Backs on July 24, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    Muriel, Harold & Family:

    So sorry to hear about Sonia. I will miss her sitting in the Fellowship Hall between services. She was a courageous fighter and a true believer. My heart goes out to you all. It is very hard to loose someone. You will be in my prayers.



  18. Steve and Pam Allen on July 24, 2015 at 1:55 pm

    Harold and Muriel, and Family,

    We are so saddened by the loss of Sonia. She was a wonderful young lady and we so enjoyed her during our time at First Christian. May God’s arms enfold you all as you grieve her passing and may God’s Peace be yours as you rejoice in her home-going.



  19. Betty Pickerel on July 24, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    Dear Family of Sonia:
    I wish you healing and love … for your loss is great. Sonia is deeply missed; may her memory forever bring you comfort. In hearing about Sonia, my heart rejoices in all the love and service that she has brought to you and the lives that she touched.



  20. Lyn Reeves on July 24, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    Muriel, Harold and Dianne, this is so hard to take in. Lots of wonderful memories. Our love and prayers to you all. Lyn and Jim Reeves



  21. Rose Heape on July 25, 2015 at 10:08 pm

    I’m so sorry for your loss. May you have some peace knowing that she shared herself so deeply with so many others. May God comfort you with His Word knowing we will see each other again in the here after. I am convinced of this. Maybe she can do even greater work on the other side. My prayers are with you. She will be greatly missed by a lot of people.



  22. Marla A. Jackson on July 26, 2015 at 8:09 am

    I am so sadden for of your daughter. My prayers are with your family



  23. Rita Hoffman on July 27, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    I am so sorry for your loss, and so sad to hear of Sonia’s passing. She was an inspiration to me and to so many who met her. She lived her life to the fullest in spite of setbacks. I enjoyed her sense of humor, her laughter, and her stories. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.



  24. Julie Fountain (Pisani) on July 28, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    My heart is broken hearing about Sonia. I just found out about her passing yesterday, and I am so sad that I could not attend her services. She was a blessing on this earth– someone very special who I have known since she was a young girl. My thoughts are with the entire family.



Leave a Condolence