Walter E Sommerer

Walter E (Bud) Sommerer, 92, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Friday, June 26, 2015, at home at Heisinger Bluffs. He was born October 11, 1922, in Cole County, the son of Herman and Lydia Beck Sommerer, both deceased. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, Henry and Leona Duenckel Beck, both deceased. He was married on June 2, 1947, in Kansas City to Lorraine M Walther, who survives at home. A lifelong resident of the Jefferson City area, Mr. Sommerer attended Immanuel Lutheran School at Honey Creek, Trinity Lutheran School in Jefferson City and graduated from Jefferson City High School. He also attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and Lincoln University in Jefferson City. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, having served as Elder and Treasurer. He served as a radioman in the United States Navy during World War II, seeing action in the European and Mediterranean Theaters. He was a member of the American Legion, Roscoe Enloe Post No. 5, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Roy Sone Post 1003. He was employed by the Missouri Highway Department for 38 years, retiring in 1985 as a Bridge Design Group Leader. He had many fond memories of his childhood, growing up on his grandparents' farm in Honey Creek, playing in the spring by the creek, walking to school and sitting with his grandma in church listening to Pastor Bultmann's too-long sermons in German. After moving to town with his grandma he washed dishes for at his favorite Uncle Walter at his restaurant at the corner of Broadway and High, biking there with his dog Poochie in the basket. His Navy service was unconventional, but he was on a destroyer long enough to escort President Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference. He and Lorraine eloped to be married in Kansas, because that state didn't have a 3-day waiting period for marriage licenses. They then enjoyed 68 years of marriage and friendship with several other close couples, including many weekends in the 1950s at The Lake with boats that he built from kits. He had no end of pride in his son, whom he would insist on calling Doctor at times (see below). He really did like his work, the people he worked with and his bosses. He was blessed with good health through a long retirement and enjoyed traveling near and far, to favorite places like Eureka Springs, to visit his son and his family as they moved about and to see the countryside of the ancestors in Germany. He was sad to leave his Jefferson City home of 50 years, overlooking the river, but found that he loved his new home at Heisinger Bluffs, with many new friends and its own river view. He liked his doctor but hardly ever saw him and in the end he quietly took a promotion and left for a better position. Other survivors include: one son, Dr. Timothy J Sommerer and his wife Lisa of Ballston Spa, N.Y.; one sister, Doris Propst and her husband Kenneth of Jefferson City; one brother, Ralph Sommerer and his wife Lolly of Jefferson City; and one granddaughter, Angela Sommerer, of Ballston Spa, N.Y. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Francis Frasher and Norma Sommerer. A memorial service will be conducted at Heisinger Bluffs Chapel on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., with Chaplain Jim Mueller officiating and Pastor Tony Alter preaching. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial will be in the Riverview Cemetery Mausoleum. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to Faith Lutheran Church Building Fund or Calvary Lutheran High School, both in Jefferson City, or to the charity of their choice. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 W. Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65109 (573) 636-3838 Condolences may be left for the family online at www.millardfamilychapels.com.