Charles "John" Sonnhalter's Obituary
[email protected] Sonnhalter, age 77, of North Ridgeville, passed away peacefully at his residence
surrounded by his loving family on Friday, July 17, 2026. He was born in Canton, Ohio, and lived in North Ridgeville for 46 years.
He is survived by his wife Terri (nee Phillips); sons Matt Sonnhalter (Julia) and Adam
Sonnhalter (Shannon); grandchildren Jackson and Lexie Sonnhalter; and siblings Bill, Sue, Joan Niedenthal (Gordy), Mary Alice, and Mike Sonnhalter. He is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Mary Sonnhalter. Beloved by many, John cherished his family and countless friends. To him, there were no strangers, only friends he had yet to meet.
He began his career as a funeral director and then, after earning his degree in Business from Cleveland State University, he founded Sonnhalter in 1976—one of the industry’s first marketing firms dedicated exclusively to the construction, industrial and MRO markets. Over nearly four decades he helped pioneer “business-to-trades” (B2T) marketing, still at the core of Sonnhalter’s identity, before transitioning ownership to his son Matt and retiring in 2015.
An avid golfer who enjoyed good food, wine and bourbon, as well as spending lots of time with his family, John was never too busy to help others. Active in the Catholic Church, he ran several charity golf outings, including Bishop Pilla’s outing for the children of Parmadale and events supporting the St. Augustine Hunger Center. In retirement, he mentored small business owners through SCORE and helped launch Good Knights of Lorain County, a nonprofit ensuring every child, veteran and senior has a safe place to sleep. Above all, he was devoted to his wife, children and grandchildren, sharing a lifetime of travel and treasured memories with his wife Terri, from local getaways to far-off destinations.
Friends may call at Bogner Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville, on Friday, July 31, 2026, from 4–7 PM. A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at St. Clarence Church, 30106 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, at 11:00 AM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Knights of Lorain County at
https://goodknightsoflc.org/donate/.
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