Champion - Sonia D. LaPin, age 56, of 2030 Co Rd AS, Champion, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, January 18, 2021 of an apparent heart attack.

Sonia was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on July 14, 1964, the daughter of Eleanore W. (Heikkila) Niemi and the late Toivo "Jake" J. Niemi, Jr. She grew up in West Ishpeming and was a graduate of Westwood High School, Class of 1983.  Sonia had worked for over 20 years on Mackinac Island for Mackinac Island Carriage Tours with her husband Pete.  Sonia was currently working as a manager at JN Electric in Ishpeming where she took on many roles. In addition, she also served as a trustee on the Champion Township Board.

Sonia adored and loved spending time with her grandchildren and attending all of their sporting events. She would light up the room with her smile and generous heart. She was the most loving and giving person one would ever meet.  Her morning ritual was to call all of her family members and friends that she knew were in need of a little special attention. She dearly loved "her girls", her rag doll cats, Princess and Duchess, she was always posting pictures for everybody to see, she was so proud of them.  She was also a very avid Bingo player, easily playing 125 cards at a time.

Sonia will be missed so dearly by all who knew her, especially her family and extended family. She was the rock of the family and inspiration to so many. Sonia will especially be missed by her husband, her high school sweetheart, Pete. They were destined to be together when they first met in 1979 and were voted prom king and queen by their classmates in 1982.

Survivors include her husband of 37 years Pete LaPin of Champion; son Branden (fiancée Shasta Olson) LaPin of Champion; mother Eleanore Niemi of Ishpeming; 2 grandchildren - Ava and Cooper LaPin, 2 step-grandchildren - Lux and Gatsby; two sisters - Jean Werth and Donna Wetts both of Appleton, WI; four brothers - Greg (Kris) Niemi of Kalamazoo; Jason (Michelle) Niemi of Ishpeming; Kurtis Niemi of Ishpeming; Steve (Jana) Niemi of Appleton, WI; mother-in-law Pat LaPin; sister-in-law - Debra Niemi; along with numerous nieces and nephews and special friend Michele Irwin.

She was preceded in death by her father Jake Niemi; brother Jack Niemi; brother-in-law Mike Werth and her special father-in-law Berle LaPin.

Grandma, there is one funny joke you made and I will never forget it.  No one knows it besides you, me and papa. Love you to the moon and back and maybe even further. Love Ava.

Grandma we will miss you so much. Thank you so much for watching us play sports and for also traveling with us. Love Cooper.

A Public Visitation will be held 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home.  Interment will take place in the Spring at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Champion.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, those attending the visitation must adhere to the wearing of masks and social distancing while at the funeral home.

Sonia's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

Sonia's service livestream may be found at the Bjork and Zhulkie Facebook Page .