Obituary of Christian Edward Sogaard

He was born Nov. 29, 1987, in Dyersville, son of his proud parents, Jens and Mary (Ungs) Sogaard. He was raised in Dyersville with loving family and friends, attended St. Francis Xavier grade school and Beckman High School, graduating in 2006. Christian played baseball for many years, going with the Beckman team to state finals his senior year. He was an avid soccer player for Beckman, was captain as elected by the team for three years, and played in the state playoffs as a senior. He was a quiet and solid leader on the field. He also developed a love for music during high school, learning to sing and play guitar and piano. He performed a beautiful piece for his senior graduating class. He went on to Loras College, playing soccer his first year and being involved in Loras Choirs all four years. He was honored with a Loras Music Scholarship, Loras Club of Dubuque Scholarship, Dean's Scholarship and Academic Leadership awards amongst others. Christian took the spring semester of 2008 as a study abroad student through Loras to the University of Pretoria, South Africa. During this time he learned to scuba dive and explored this new country with his first cousin, Mikkel, from Denmark. He finished classes there in June, coming back to join Americorps as a team leader to help with the flood victims in Cedar Rapids. That fall he went back to Loras until he graduated in December 2010 with his degree in Philosophy. He was a vital part of the Loras community, especially Campus Ministry with service trips to Kentucky, and the Loras choirs and music program. He loved the school, and his mentors and many friends there. He touched many lives through his interests and care for others, especially those in need. Christian was a kind and sensitive person, a deep thinker, and humanitarian. He had a love of the church and seriously considered attending seminary. He was especially attuned to children, including his little cousins and animals, especially his pets at home. Christian was adventurous and had plans to travel more and to join the Peace Corps or the military. He had many trips to his father's native country, Denmark, from the age of 8 months. He loved to read, play piano and guitar, and to sing with his beautiful voice. He was athletic, loving soccer, baseball and snow skiing best, and had a dry but quick humor. He was compassionate, peaceful, and charismatic. He loved, as he did with his sister and parents on the Sunday before his death, to take a long walk by the creek behind his parents' country home with his dogs. Christian leaves behind his parents, his sisters Katrina (fiancé Joel Anderson) of Chicago, Illinois and Kirsten, a student at the University of Iowa; his maternal grandmother Julie Ungs of Luxemburg; his paternal grandparents Erik and Inger Sogaard of Hoptrup, Denmark; his maternal uncles and aunts Mike and Rhonda Ungs of Luxemburg, Randy and Susi Jaeger of Swisher, John and Shari Greenwood of Peosta, Steve and Jill Ungs of Cedar Rapids, Jack and Shelly Harkins of Portage, WI; his paternal uncles and aunts Johs and Annemarie Christiansen of Holdbi, Denmark and Ole and Bodil Sogaard of Haderslev, Denmark; his cousins Abbey (Jeremy) Petsche; Leah, Anna and Chloe Ungs; Nic (Jeanne), Melissa and Kimberly Jaeger, Madelyn Jaeger-Toyne; Sara (Wes) Vorwald; Megan, Brian and Lisa Greenwood; Samantha and Alison Ungs; Sam and Lilly Harkins; Mikkel and Jeppe (Gitte) Christiansen; Lise, Majken and Lars Sogaard; and countless friends. He was preceeded in death by his maternal grandfather, Ed Ungs and a cousin, Rachel Ungs. The family requests memorials be given to the Christian Sogaard memorial fund to be used for gifts to Beckman and Loras College and other organizations in Christian's honor. The family wishes to thank Loras College and the Youth Prayer Group in Dyersville for the beautiful memorial services held on Wed., Jan. 5, the many emergency personnel who tried to resuscitate Christian, and the many family and friends who have done so much to comfort Christian's family. Friends may call from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 9, 2011, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa where a parish scripture service will be held at 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 10, 2011, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, Iowa with burial at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Luxemburg. Rev. Robert Gross will officiate, Father Brendan Freeman and Father Alberic Farbolin will concelebrate and Deacon Jim Steger will assist.