Gary L. Sonntag, age 55, a lifelong resident of Wheaton, died suddenly Saturday, March 5, 2005, at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey. He was born in Geneva on October 26, 1949, to George and Dorothy Sonntag.

He was a 1967 graduate of Wheaton Central High School. He attended Chicago College of Commerce and became a Certified Shorthand Reporter, after which he was drafted into the Army and served as a court reporter in Vietnam. He subsequently returned to Wheaton and jointly created Sonntag Reporting Service, Ltd., where he was president and remained a freelance court reporter until his death. Gary was a Registered Diplomate Reporter, the highest certification bestowed by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and became a Director of NCRA in July, 2004.

He is a Fellow of the Academy of Professional Reporters and has participated in numerous speed contest competitions, including winning first place in Illinois on several occasions and Tennessee once. He competed in over 20 NCRA Speed Contests and won a bronze medal in 2001. He met his wife, Melanie, also a competitor, at an NCRA Speed Contest, and they were married in 1997.

Gary is survived by his wife, Melanie, and sons Geoffrey C. (Brooke) Sonntag of Tonganoxie, Kansas; Griffin L. (Jennifer) Sonntag of Wheaton; and Galen M. Sonntag of Everett, Washington; and his blue-eyed grandson Grayson A. Sonntag of Tonganoxie. He is also survived by siblings G. Allen Sonntag, Meredith A. Piper, Gregg L. Sonntag, Marcy A. Becker, and Glenn L. Sonntag; his stepmother, Margie Sonntag; and his former wife, Susan M. Sonntag.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 11, 2005, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 North Main Street, Wheaton, where service will be held on Saturday at noon. Interment will be held privately.

Memorials may be directed to the National Court Reporters Foundation, 8224 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, Virginia 22182.