Sonja "Sunny" Laura Eckstein, age 88, passed away on 1/8/2026 at Pine Villa Memory Care.  She was born on August 1, 1937, the daughter of the late George "Red" and Lorraine "Curly" (Reible) Hicks. Sunny spent her life in Sauk City, attended St. Aloysius Catholic School and graduated from Sauk City High School in 1955. Sunny was united in marriage to LaVerne Eckstein on August 27, 1957, at St Aloysius Church. He preceded her in death on September 7, 2000.  During her career, she worked for several businesses, including Ganser's Dime Store, Kundert's, Ziemke Jewelry Store and most recent Consumers Coop.

Sunny is survived by her children, LaVerne Eckstein Jr. (Nancy) MT, Laura (Charles) Endres, Sauk City, Lisa (Robert) Endres, Sauk City, and Roechell (Steve) Walch, Prairie du Sac.  Her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Bonnie (Casey) Bell, Lucas (Jessica) Eckstein, Lindy (Steve) Cashdollar, Matthew (Alexandra) Endres, Misty (Joe) Schmidt, Lucas (Madeleine Manning) Endres, Sam (Rosina Dick) Walch; great grandchildren, Declan, Knox, Lucas and Riggins, Brixton, Roman, Peyton, Keaton and Xalia; her sister, Mary Hicks (Lynn "Lil" Kunesh); in laws, Deloris Hicks, Sharon (Stan) Frosch, Virginia (Roger) Rowe, special niece and nephew, Jason Hicks and Sara Hicks, and many nieces  and nephews.

Sonja was preceded in death by her loving husband, LaVerne "Sonny" George Eckstein. her parents, Lorraine Reible (Curly) & George (Red) Hicks, JR, brother, George Hicks III, in laws Joseph & Valeria Eckstein, special Aunt, Viola (Honey) Curtis, special cousin, Marie Pulvermacher, in laws, Sandy Hicks, Jane (Melvin) Schwartz, Patricia (Eddie) Hilgendorf, Vera (Roy) Denu, Darlene Hilgendorf, Norman "Barney" Hicks and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her love lives on in the memories she created with her children and grandchildren. With her slumber parties, Dairy Queen and McDonald's runs, the many cards she sent to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, which included a $2 bill and signing it with her signature 'bunny drawing', her 3 minute goodbye waves' standing by the bay window, and her usual response that "she was not at all hungry" but somehow managed to eat every morsel of a full plate.

Sunny loved 'putzing', eating chocolate and tootsie rolls, word searches, and masterfully folding a t-shirt you could bounce a quarter off and the frequent, "I sure could go for a brandy and 7 right now", which meant someone needed to make her one.
Following our mother's final breath, the hymn, "How Great Thou Art" rose and filled the room.
We will miss you dearly, Mom.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Sauk City, 115 Madison St., Sauk City.  A visitation will be held from 9:30 am until 10:45 am prior to Mass, at Hooverson Funeral Home, 251 WaterSt., Sauk City.

Our deepest gratitude to the incomparable Kevin from Agrace and the remarkable staff at The Pines Memory Care, especially, Sharon, Amanda, Rebecca and Amber, who cared for our mom beautifully and handled her snark with grace, especially in her early days, as she found community in forming a gang for 3am rendezvous down the halls, and Doris, who became a special friend.