Juanita Emma Katherine Sodowsky, died Saturday, September 11, 2010, in St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 91.

Juanita Emma Katherine Sodowsky was born on March 14, 1919, in Blackwell, Oklahoma to Otto William and Eleonora (Meyer) Deffner. She was both baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church. northeast of Blackwell. She graduated from Blackwell High School in 1936 and continued her education at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She married Cecil Sodowsky on November 24, 1940, in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and she served her family as a homemaker and mother to her three sons Lee, Donald and David. She later returned to Oklahoma State University to finish her education. In 1969, she received her bachelor's degree in home economics and in 1972 she received her master's degree in nutrition. She taught home economics at Blackwell High School from 1969 to 1984. Juanita also taught Sunday School for over sixty years at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell. She was currently serving as treasurer for the Oklahoma District of the Lutheran Laymen's League and was a member of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. She also held membership in the Oklahoma Retired Teachers Association and the Consumer and Family Science Association.

She is survived by her husband, Cecil Sodowsky of Blackwell, Oklahoma; two sons, Donald Sodowsky of Blackwell, Oklahoma, and David Sodowsky and wife Christy of Winfield, Kansas; daughter-in-law, Edie Sodowsky of Sabillasville, Maryland; two grandsons, Wayne Sodowsky and his wife Kathy of Grantsville, West Virginia, and Joel Sodowsky of Spring, Texas; three granddaughters, Jennifer Sodowsky of Sabillasville, Maryland, Megan Wilson and her husband Larry of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Melissa Moran and her husband Michael of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; great grandchildren, Madilyn, Joseph, Anna and Thomas of Grantsville, West Virginia; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her son, Rev. Lee Sodowsky; her parents, Otto and Eleonora Deffner; and brothers, Paul, John, Ernest and Ivan Deffner.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 15th in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell with Rev. Ned Moerbe of the Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Mike Moran, Larry Wilson, Carl Reutter, Don Priboth, Tom Eakins and Byron Hildebrand. Serving as honorary casketbearers will be Russell Reck, Bob James, Ron Shallotsp, Leslie Page, Floyd Hildebrand, Ron Bersche, John Powers and Jim Menzer.

Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to the Rev. Lee Sodowsky Memorial Fund at the Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.