Sondra Joan Nelson

Sondra Joan “Sonnie” Nelson, 88, of St. Paul, Nebraska, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving family, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Liturgy of the Word services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 26, 2026, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. Rev. Vince Parsons will officiate the service. Visitation will be held Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m at the church. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Peters Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Sonnie was born March 11, 1937, the daughter of William “Buck” and Frieda “Blondie” (Muller) Lucht, on a farm southeast of St. Paul.

She attended District 15 Rural School before attending and graduating from St. Paul High School. Following graduation, she attended Joseph’s School of Cosmetology in Grand Island.

On June 7, 1958, Sonnie was united in marriage to James E. “Jim” Nelson at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul.

The couple lived in various communities around Nebraska while Jim worked in road construction. In the early 1960s, they returned to St. Paul, where they lived on an acreage south of St. Paul.

Once back in St. Paul, Sonnie worked as a beautician at Ziemba’s Barber Shop and Norma’s Beauty Salon. Along with fixing up everyone’s hair, Sonnie played a huge part in helping raise her grandchildren.

Some of Sonnie’s hobbies included casino and gambling trips, attending horse races, doing jigsaw puzzles, playing bingo, completing crossword puzzles, and she had a special love for Elvis Presley.

She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Kim & Terry Kosmicki and Andrea & Russell Sutherland, both of St. Paul; grandchildren Krystal & Danny Barg, Ashley & Mike Lynch, Clark & Tara Kosmicki, Rilye & Tatum Sutherland; eight great-grandchildren J.T., Jordan, Kinzley, Carter, Morgan, Emily, Blake, Lacey, and Baby Sutherland, arriving soon. She is also survived by a half-brother, Billy Lucht; sisters-in-law, Karen McCord of St. Paul and Beverly Dethlefs of Dannebrog; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William “Buck” and Frieda “Blondie” Lucht; her husband, James E. “Jim” Nelson, on November 1, 2010; sister-in-law, Sandi Scheer; and brother-in-law, George Dethlefs.