Solveig G. Runge

Solveig G. Runge, 78, of Sioux City passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at a local care facility. Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will not be having a public funeral service at this time. A public memorial service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be directed to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Solveig Gerty Runge was born March 29, 1941, in Bremerhaven, Germany. She was the daughter of Gerta and Paul Emken who married on June 8, 1940. Gerta and Paul had two daughters: Solveig, and her younger sister, Ute. Paul was killed at the Russian Front only three weeks before World War II ended, and Ute died of pneumonia shortly before this time.

On January 26, 1954, Solveig and her mother, Gerta, came to Sioux City, Iowa. Solveig was 13 years old. She had to learn the English language and adapt to being a teenager in America. In 1957, Solveig was proud to become a United States citizen. She excelled in school as well as worked as a hospital worker at the former St. Joseph Hospital, and then as a secretary to support herself.

Solveig married Ronald Emery Runge on April 28, 1962, in Sioux City, and they had three daughters together: Erika, Ursula, and Ronja. In 1969, Solveig was crowned Mrs. German America. She was an active volunteer in the Sioux City area as well as a member of the Shriners Daughter of the Nile. She also participated in Republican Party politics. She was elected as the National Delegate to the Republican Convention in Detroit to elect President Ronald Reagan in 1980. Later in life and for more than 12 years, Solveig worked at Mardell’s, a gift shop, where she helped people decorate their homes and find lovely gifts for loved ones.

After forty-seven years of marriage together, Ronald preceded Solveig in death (in 2009). Solveig’s survivors include her three daughters and their families: Erika & Chris Zins and their children, Bianca and Trevor, Ursula Runge and her children, Landen and Jacob, and Ronja & William Butler and their children, Carson and Kaden. Solveig’s parents and her baby sister also preceded her in death.

Solveig suffered from a long illness which included Alzheimers. Yet this is not the end of Solveig’s journey. She accepted Jesus as her Savior, and she is now in the arms of Jesus in Heaven where she is with Ronald, her parents, and her sister, and she is whole with no more pain or suffering. Thanks be to God!

Solveig’s family would like to thank Neil Warnholtz, her step-father and Gerta’s husband (they married in 1971), who preceded Solveig and Gerta in death, for his great love and devotion to Solveig, Ronald, her mother, and her daughters. They would also like to thank the Paul Wenberg family for their love and care of Solveig (when she was a teenager and young adult) and her family too.

Solveig’s family would like to thank Sunrise Retirement Community and Hospice of Siouxland, both of Sioux City, IA, for their incredible care of Solveig.

Solveig’s family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Salvation Army of Siouxland at https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/siouxland with a mailing address of 1415 Villa Avenue, Sioux City, IA 51103. Also, Solveig’s family suggests memorial contributions be sent to Hospice of Siouxland at https://hospiceofsiouxland.com/support-us/ with a mailing address of 309 Cook Street, Sioux City, IA 51103.