Loren "Sonny" Edward Woten

Loren Edward "Sonny" Woten, of South Sioux City, NE went home to heaven on October 15, 2012 at the hospital in Sioux City, IA.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at Hope Lutheran Church in South Sioux City, NE. Burial will be in the Dakota City Cemetery with military rites conducted. Visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, with the family present at 6:00 P.M. and a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City, NE. Online condolences to the family may be posted at www.mohrfuneralhome.com.Loren was born on July 10, 1934 to Loren and Ethel (nee: Vance) Woten on a farm near Macy, NE. He attended school at Macy until the school burned in his senior year. At 18 he went into the army and served two years, mainly at Ft. Lewis, WA; an experience he admitted he, "Didn't like, but wouldn't take anything for!" He returned to live with his sister, Retha in Dakota City and worked for Sparks' Furniture.On May 22, 1960 he married Clara Cooper and they moved to South Sioux City where they resided for 52 years.He began his work with glass at PPG in Sioux City, then went to Tucker Glass in South Sioux, and finally retired from The Glass House in 1998.He was an avid sports fan, following the Huskers through their many up's and down's. While in the hospital he beamed at receiving a football signed by Tom Osborne and Bo Pelini and made plans for his son to make a special case for it. He and his wife coached their children: Jean, Jo, Debi, and Larry in softball, basketball, and baseball for several years, and he later coached and played catcher on Hope Lutheran's men's softball team.As the children grew up he found time for music, playing guitar in a variety of country bands; the last of which was "Back to Country". He and Clara started and led a Jam Session at the South Sioux Senior Center for about 20 years and made many wonderful friends there.Sonny was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in South Sioux and served many years as Elder and Trustee. The last few years he's been their janitor, always worrying about getting everything done right. His family is now carrying on that job for him. He was also a member of the South Sioux City American Legion Post #307.He leaves to mourn: wife, Clara; daughters, Jean Woten of Woodland Hills, CA, Jo (Christopher) Chernock and Debra Reed of South Sioux; and son, Larry of South Sioux; grandchildren, Tyler and Lindsay Reed and Samuel and Dane Chernock; great-grandchildren, Hunter Reed and Brynn Reed; sisters, Retha Curry, Charlotte Teeters, Mary Monell, and Margie Sparks; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.Preceding him in death: his parents; brothers, John, Jack and Bud Woten; sisters, Florence Rager, Rosie Monell, Pat Van Diest, Vivian Cable, Mabel Sudduth, and Jeanette Going.