Les Sonntag

A/K/A Muggins & Pop & Dad & Daddy-O & Grampy

Lester Francis Sontag was born on Nov. 13, 1927 in Manhattan in New York City, NY. His parents were separated; his mother and sister lived in Washington, DC, so from age 4, Les was raised alone by his father in an uptown Washington Heights apartment in NYC during the Great Depression days. He was the first child on the George Washington Bridge the day before it was dedicated in October 1934. He graduated from George Washington HS in NYC at age 16 and attended NYU until 1945, after which he served as an Army sergeant at age 19 during the police action in Korea in 1946-7. He earned a B.S. degree in Social Sciences from CCNY in 1949 and attended Rutgers Law School in 1950-51.

Les was employed by Eastern Air Lines in NJ and NY from 1951 to 1954, in passenger service, reservations, and training of supervisory personnel, followed by home office market research and analysis. He then changed his career path and had a 40-year career in insurance and administration with Chubb and Son and with Kemper Insurance in NJ, and then with Employers Insurance Group, Financial Insurance Agency, Seaboard Underwriters, and Insurance Office of America in NC, when he moved to CA in 1977, and he finally retired in 1995 as VP and Secretary of American Sterling Group. He was honored by having the Home Office at 9800 Muirlands Blvd., Irvine, CA named in a plaque "The Lester F Sonntag Building".

Les was married in 1953 for 50 years to Augusta, and they had two children, five grandchildren, and five great grandkids. Augusta served as a secretary for PCOM for six years until she retired' she passed in 2004 from cardiac arrest, and her memorial service was held at PCOM. Les was married to Doris in 2005 at PCOM, and she brought him 3 children, 6 grandkids, and 12 great-grandkids. Doris passed in 2021 from covid.

Les served as Deacon, Elder, Treasurer or other position in seven Presbyterian Churches in NJ, NC and CA starting in 1955. He sang as a bass/baritone in eight Presbyterian Churches around the country every year from 1949 to 2005, as well as performing with various chorales and theater groups, and he was soloist at various weddings, funerals and social events. He joined PCOM in 1978 and was active in serving the Church receipts weekly, starting in 2004.

Les had various trade memberships, government appointments, homeowners' association positions, choral group affiliations, golf and bowling club memberships, and he served as an officer in many of these. He won his tournament flight championship in the Casta del Sol Men's Golf Club in 2005 and 2014.

Les lived at Casta del Sol in Mission Viejo, CA beginning in 1982 until he and Doris moved to Freedom Village Retirement Center in Lake Forest, CA in 2014.

Les enjoyed traveling, RVing, cruising and exploring. He visited all 50 of the United States, and he sailed on 28 ocean and river cruises around the world. Les passed on May 15, 2025 at age 97. Now he's probably taking a look at the rest of God's universe.

A memorial service will be held August 23, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Presbyterian Church Of The Master. Address is: 26051 Marguerite Pkwy
Mission Viejo, CA 92692.

Lester lived life richly in service and kindness. He was a beacon of light and hope in our community. His love for his family knew no bounds. His unwavering spirit will forever be remembered and missed.