On September 2, 2025, the quiet town of Castle Rock, Colorado lost one of its brightest lights. Sonja Johanna Strom — a 20-year-old student and beloved daughter — passed away, leaving behind a stunned community still trying to process the loss.
From her earliest years, Sonja radiated warmth and an unbeatable energy. Raised by her parents, Peter Strom and Christine Strom, and growing up alongside her sister Annika Strom, she was deeply woven into Castle Rock’s community fabric. Through childhood, school, sports, volunteering and even summer jobs — Sonja threw herself wholeheartedly into the town she loved.
Her motivations and dreams soon carried her west, to La Jolla, California, where she enrolled in chemical engineering at University of California, San Diego. There, she saw new horizons: days by the Pacific surf, evenings studying, weekends on ski trips, and countless moments spent with friends laughing, experimenting with TikTok recipes, trying out new books, catching concerts, or simply living.
But beyond academic promise and extracurricular zest, what defined Sonja was her heart. Those who knew her speak of an authenticity that turned acquaintances into lifelong friends. She had a way of making people feel seen — offering kindness, loyalty, support, and a warmth that lingered long after she walked away. It’s a rare gift, and one that resonated throughout her community.
To her family — her parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins — the pain is raw and profound. Yet even in grief, they’ve made a request that captures Sonja’s spirit: for all who come to honor her memory to wear bright, festive colors to her celebration of life — not mourning attire, but a tribute to a life that lived vividly. The memorial will take place on Monday, September 15, 2025 at 1:00 pm at the pavilion at Philip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock.
It’s hard not to wonder what the future held: an ambitious science career, more laughter, new adventures, countless weekends in La Jolla, Colorado ski slopes, late-night recipe experiments and spontaneous road trips. Yet those dreams now rest in the memories of those she touched.
For those of us lucky enough to have known Sonja — or just glimpsed the brightness she carried — the loss is heavy. But she left behind more than sorrow. She left a reminder: to live fully, love deeply, cherish every moment, and try always to shine like she did.
Sonja’s light was fierce while it burned — and though the flame has gone out, her warmth will echo in the hearts of many for years to come.
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