Sonja Opal-Marie (Wagner) Brown was born Feb. 12, 1990, in Lincoln, Neb., to Darla (Jesse) Baxter and Bradley (Wagner) Hink-Wagner.
Sonja attended elementary and junior high school in Lincoln, Neb., and high school in North Carolina. As a youth Sonja successfully petitioned her junior high school to participate in the wrestling program. However, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis before she was able to participate in her first wrestling meet. She graduated from E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, N.C., in 2008.
Sonja moved back to Nebraska in 2010. While at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital she briefly met her future husband. Later, while living at the Utica Community Care Center in Utica, Neb., she was reintroduced to and fell in love with Jason Brown. They were married on June 16, 2012, in Utica, Neb.
Sonja enjoyed writing poetry, all types of music, woodworking and was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan. She loved spending time with her friends and family, especially her son, Ty Wagner, whom she loved without end.
Sonja passed away Jan. 16, 2015, at Sunrise Heights of Wauneta in Wauneta, Neb. She was 24 years of age. Sonja was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother Hazel (Couch) Tittsworth and paternal grandmother Lana (Kleinholz) Wagner.
Her survivors include husband Jason Brown of Trenton, Neb.; son Ty Wagner of Imperial, Neb.; parents Darla (Jack) Baxter of Raeford, N.C., and Bradley (Sheri) Hink-Wagner of Imperial, Neb.; maternal grandfather Harry Jesse of Centralia, Mo.; paternal grandfather Larry (Judee) Wagner of Lincoln, Neb.; brothers and sisters: Dominic Wagner of Raeford, N.C., Kaitlin Baxter of Lincoln, Neb., Cole Wagner of Raeford, N.C.; D.J. Baxter of Lincoln, Neb., Marissa Wagner of Lincoln, Neb., Leo Hink-Wagner of Imperial, Neb.; aunt Rita (Ron) Skoda of Lincoln, Neb.; uncle Lyle (Dorothea) Jesse of Lincoln, Neb.; uncle Cameron Wagner of Lincoln, Neb.; aunt Jenan Al-Hakemi Wagner of Lincoln, Neb.; great aunts and uncles; as well as numerous cousins and other loved ones.
A Private Family Memorial Service honoring Sonja’s life will be held at the Liewer Funeral Home in Wauneta, Neb. with Mr. Richard Stahly officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
No visitation; Sonja chose cremation.
At Sonja’s request, a memorial has been established to contribute to her son’s Direct College Savings Plan. Memorial contributions can be made online or via mail at
www.ugift529.com
using ugift code S40-V98.
Online condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta entrusted with arrangements.