SOPHIE A. GONSTEAD, 68, 825 Knight St., died Tuesday, April 13, 1999 at her home, surrounded by her family, after a courageous five-year battle with cancer.Sophie was born to John and Anna (Pasyk) Kowalczyk in Gilman on April 14, 1930. She married Harlan Gonstead on May 26, 1948. They lived in Eau Claire throughout their married life. Sophie stayed at home to raise her children and returned to work when her youngest started school. She worked as a bookkeeper at the Black Steer Restaurant and at the Hong Kong House Restaurant during the late 70's and 80's and until two months ago, she worked in the office of Gonstead Chriropractic. She is a member of St. James the Greater Catholic Church and the St. James Rosary Confraternity.\r\nSurvivors include her husband Harlan; her five sons, Mike (Lynda) Gonstead of Mondovi, Dan (Debbie) Gonstead of Menomonie, Ed (Pat) Gonstead of Eau Claire, Randy (Beth) Gonstead of Menomonee Falls and Jon Gonstead of Eagan, MN; her four daughters, Linda (Gary) Stone, Karen (Bill) Sabin, M.J. (Bob) Gonstead-Lahti and Ann (Randy) Hartle, all of Eau Claire.\r\nShe is further survived by her grandchildren: Brian (Mary) Gonstead, Doniell (Greg) Weltzin, Nicole Pederson (Jim Zamora, fiance), Liz Stone, Stephanie, Matt, Jennifer, Eric, and Jonas Gonstead, Joshua and Jacob Haley, Barry and Angela Hartle, Samantha and Zachary Lahti, all of Eau Claire, Ben and Tara Sabin of Madison, Michaleen Gonstead (Jeff Josephs, fiance), of St. Louis Park, MN, Ryan Gonstead of Mondovi, Tina Anderson, Luke and Sara Gonstead of Menomonie, Scott, Andrew and Liz Gonstead of Menomonee Falls, and Brooks Lahti of Bessemer, MI; two great-granddaughters,Taylor Zamora and Kayla Weltzin of Eau Claire; three sisters, Rose Bujak of Chicago, Mary (Frank) Lencz of Gilman, and Edna (Harold) Duffy of Milwaukee; and two brothers, Alex Kowalczyk of Gilman and Joe Kowalczyk of Loyal.\r\nSophie was preceded in death by her mother and father; three grandchildren, Jon and James Sabin, and Rachel Gonstead; and two brothers, Gus and Frank Kowalczyk.\r\nSophie was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a friend to many. Her passing will leave a void in our hearts. She will be sadly missed.\r\nFuneral services will be 12 noon, Friday at St. James the Greater Catholic Church with Father John A. Schultz officiating. Inurnment will be in Calvary Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum. Friends may call 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Friday at the church. There will be a 6:30 p.m. Prayer Vigil, Thursday at the funeral home.\r\nFamily suggests memorials be directed to St. Joseph Hospice Care, Chippewa Falls.\r\n"No one is unfortunate who dies on the upbeat of life surrounded by love. Don't grieve for me. Grieve for all who have died, and will die, feeling alone, abandoned, unloved. Weep for them - Not for Me." Author unknown.

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