Uchenna Iwuagwu

Uchenna Sunday Iwuagwu, fondly and affectionately known as ""Sonnie"" was born fourth child to Late Sir, (Dr.) E.O. and Lady Mabel Iwuagwu, on September 14, 1958. He attended the well known All Saints Elementary School in Enugu, then East Central State in Nigeria. He further went on to Government College Umuahia and after his West African School Certificate, equivalent of High School Diploma, proceeded to London, England where he studied Banking from where he went on to Belmont College, Nashville Tennessee. He attained his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Finance at Belmont College. After graduation in 1983, he decided to visit Madison Wisconsin on the invitation of Prof. and Mrs. Campbell--(Grandpa and Grandma). That visit later led to the beginning-of Madison Wisconsin becoming second home for Sonnie. While in Madison, he gained admission at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (the only UW) as he would say. In 1989, Sonnie gained his Masters degree in Consumer Science with special emphasis on Financial Management. Most of Sonnie's life was spent here in America and most of his adult life spent here in Madison.   Sonnie's earlier career started in the banking industry at Valley Bank which was later to be known as Lake City United Bank and finally M&I Bank. He worked for the banking industry as a Management Trainee/Credit Analyst from 1983 1987 when he gained admission to the U.W. Madison. While at the U., he combined his studies with working as a Teaching & Research Assistant. Upon graduation, he applied for and was offered a job as an Institutional Planner with the U.W. Office of Budget, Planning, and Analysis; a job he held for five years and then moved on to Department of Transportation as a Program Development Analyst.   Sonnie's passion for working with numbers and analyzing budgetary issues engineered him into looking for more challenging jobs. He later applied for and was offered the job of a Program Development Analyst with the Department of Transportation, Madison. That position, even though he liked it did not meet his analytical and mathematical mind and in 1997, he applied for and again was offered the job of a Senior Budget Analyst with the Department of Human Services, Dane County, Wisconsin. At the time he was at this job, he started battling with liver problems and went through his first liver transplant. He felt it was time to go back to Nigeria and offer his services to Nigeria.   Sonnie, with the encouragement of his late brother Senator Amah C. Iwuagwu finally relocated to Nigeria. Upon his return to Nigeria, and with his financial analytical mind, Sonnie joined Credit Alliance Financial Services, Ltd., Lagos, Nigeria as an Economic Consultant. He worked with that firm for two years and took one year leave of absence to work with the Nigerian Government in the office of the Presidency; Bureau of Public Enterprises, as an Assistant Director helping in reorganization and privatization of public enterprises. It was at this time, that he became very ill again and returned to the U.S.A. in 2002 for his second transplant and had moved back and forth between Nigeria and America.   Sonnie was a much disciplined, focused and goal oriented person with tremendous amount of energy; he loved challenges and was a fighter for what he believed in. He was a kind, caring and generous person, very easy going, very unassuming. He would say things the way it is. A very private person, a character which was most often misunderstood, but it did not bother him. He was always looking out for his family and friends. Sonnie was always encouraging one to strive for the sky. He was a very positive person, helping you to see things in a different light. Sonnie was always willing to extend a helping hand, yet never trusting. One has to earn his trust. Our mother would always say she did not have favorites, she loved us equally she would say, but we all knew Sonnie was her favorite. Thankfully, we were not raised to be jealous and so were not jealous of each other; we take care of each other. We will all miss him.   As we celebrate Sonnie's life, please let us think of what Sonnie would have us do or say at this time. Two weeks before he died, as I spoke with him on the phone, he told me not to worry, ""everything will be okay"" he said. A couple of days before he passed on, as I worked in his room, he smiled and tried to get out of bed, I asked him to lay back, and he said, ""no, let's go home, I am so sleepy. I want to go home and sleep"". I was reading a short poem ""A Little While"" and that reminded me of what Sonnie would say to us now.   A Little While Fill not your heart with pain and sorrow, But remember me in every tomorrow... Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles, I've only gone to rest a little while. Although my leaving causes pain and grief My going has eased my hurt And given me relief. So dry your eyes and remember me, Not, as I am now, but as I used to be. Because I will remember you all And look on with a smile. Understand in your hearts I've only gone to rest a little while.     Please remember we are not here to mourn Sonnie but to celebrate his life, a life well lived, a life well spent, in the number of years he was tormented, he never relented nor wavered. His faith remained strong. He fought gallantly and finished his course. Goodnight son! Goodnight Sonnie!   Uchenna ""Sonnie"" Iwuagwu, age 52 passed away on Friday, February 18, 2011.   There will be a Funeral Service on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 11 am at Heritage Congregational Church, 3102 Prairie Road, Madison. There will be a visitation from 10 a. m. until the time of service. There will also be a Service of Songs to celebrate Sonnie's life on Fri. March 18, 2011 from 6:30 until 10:00 p. m. also at Heritage Congregational Church.