Helen E. Sommer
June 20, 1923 — September 28, 2018
Helen E. Sommer, 95, formerly of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Friday, September 28, 2018, in Madison, Wisconsin, on her 74th wedding anniversary. The family will greet friends from 9 – 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion. Funeral Service will follow at 11 a.m. at the church conducted by Reverend Dennis Johnson. Graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 13th at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
Helen was born June 20, 1923, in Olin, Iowa, the daughter of Louis and Martha (Feddersen) Luedeman. She graduated from Olin High School and then served as a draftsman in Chicago, Illinois during World War II. On September 28, 1944 in Olin, Helen was united in marriage to Reverend Arnold E. Sommer. He passed away on November 14, 2001. Helen served as a pastor’s wife in Olin, Alvord, Tama, Bellevue and Correctionville, Iowa before retiring to Marion. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.
Helen was well known for her positive outlook on life. She was proud to be a minister’s wife and her faith was very important to her. However, her greatest love of all was her family. When something good happened to anyone, she would exclaim, “Oh Happy Day”. So to her family and friends, she was known as the “Happy Day Grandma”.
She is survived by her three children, Steven (Dr. Sandra) Sommer of Richmond, Virginia, Pamela (Dr. David) Thompson of Niantic, Connecticut, and Barbara (Jon) Townley of Waunakee, Wisconsin; six grandchildren, Mark (Courtney) Sommer, Valerie (Daren) Williams, Kimberly (Neils) Pennings, Christopher Thompson, Michelle (Kris) Herring, and Eric (Emily) Townley; and nine great-grandchildren, Riley, Jocelyn, Luke, Max, Wesley, Schuyler, Barend, Sommer, and Bryce.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and one sister, Norma Cooper.
A memorial fund has been established in Helen’s memory.
A special thanks to the staff at Brookdale Memory Care for the care and attention they provided for Helen during her years with them, and also to Agrace Hospice for the love and compassion they shared with her in her final days.
Helen was born June 20, 1923, in Olin, Iowa, the daughter of Louis and Martha (Feddersen) Luedeman. She graduated from Olin High School and then served as a draftsman in Chicago, Illinois during World War II. On September 28, 1944 in Olin, Helen was united in marriage to Reverend Arnold E. Sommer. He passed away on November 14, 2001. Helen served as a pastor’s wife in Olin, Alvord, Tama, Bellevue and Correctionville, Iowa before retiring to Marion. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.
Helen was well known for her positive outlook on life. She was proud to be a minister’s wife and her faith was very important to her. However, her greatest love of all was her family. When something good happened to anyone, she would exclaim, “Oh Happy Day”. So to her family and friends, she was known as the “Happy Day Grandma”.
She is survived by her three children, Steven (Dr. Sandra) Sommer of Richmond, Virginia, Pamela (Dr. David) Thompson of Niantic, Connecticut, and Barbara (Jon) Townley of Waunakee, Wisconsin; six grandchildren, Mark (Courtney) Sommer, Valerie (Daren) Williams, Kimberly (Neils) Pennings, Christopher Thompson, Michelle (Kris) Herring, and Eric (Emily) Townley; and nine great-grandchildren, Riley, Jocelyn, Luke, Max, Wesley, Schuyler, Barend, Sommer, and Bryce.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and one sister, Norma Cooper.
A memorial fund has been established in Helen’s memory.
A special thanks to the staff at Brookdale Memory Care for the care and attention they provided for Helen during her years with them, and also to Agrace Hospice for the love and compassion they shared with her in her final days.
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