Grace’s new baby, August, is actually almost two years old, and I am officially too old to understand how text messages work. Sorry about that.
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Bill Putnam Is With His Savior Now
As you know, our beloved cousin, brother, nephew, father, uncle, grandpa and great grandpa William (Bill) David Putnam went to be with his savior on Friday, August 2nd, 2024.
Services for Papa Bill will be on Sunday, August 11th at Hope Lutheran Chapel in Osage Beach, MO. The address of Hope Lutheran Chapel is:
5709 Osage Beach Parkway
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Times:
- 12:00 Immediate Family Arrives
- 1:00 Visitation (the rest of us)
- 2:00 Celebration of Life with Military Honors
- 3:00 Dinner in the church basement
I’ll post the obituary, as well as a link that you can use to leave a memorial donation in lieu of flowers. As always, please keep the Putnam family in your prayers.
Summer(er) Kitchen Update
Jim sent in this update about the Outdoor Kitchen Project:
Hello all! This is an approximate drawing of the Sommerer Kitchen. The size will be 13′ 6″ X 13′ 6″. This drawing doesn’t show it, But I have an approximately 30″ x 72″ very nice grill. It will be free standing, and possibly movable. The estimated cost of this project will be around $15,500, for the Cadillac. Materials only! Janine is on board and ready to get started this fall but we are short of funds.
We’ve been talking about this for a couple of years, and have donated some money toward the project. You can read what we’ve said in the past here. Maybe we should do a special collection this year? We did something similar for the new roof project a few years ago and raised over $10,000.
Mark Nolte is Retiring as Heit’s Point Director
Jim sent this to my mom, and my mom sent it to me, and I promptly didn’t do anything with it. But you can still RSVP today if you want to thank Mark for the wonderful job he’s done as the Executive Director at Heit’s Point. He’s done a lot over the years to make our family reunions nicer.
Uncle Vernon is Home with Jesus Now
Uncle Vernon passed away at about 11:00am today (Friday, January 6, 2023) at De Paul Hospital in St. Louis. Mary Jane and Ron were at his side.
He went to the hospital Sunday with what turned out to be a combination of pneumonia, Covid and kidney failure, and went on hospice care on Wednesday.
Visitation, Funeral, and Burial Arrangements
Vernon’s funeral and visitation will be on Tuesday, January 10, at Grace Lutheran Chapel (10015 Lance Drive, Bellefontaine Neighbors Missouri 63137). Visitation will be from 9am to 11am.
The funeral will begin at 11:00 with Pastor Nathan Ruback officiating. Following the service, there will be a luncheon at the church.
You are invited to attend the burial at Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens (2000 Pennsylvania Ave, St. Louis, Missouri 62133). We will travel in a funeral procession from the church to the cemetery following the luncheon.
Uncle Vernon’s Obituary
Vernon Paul Ernest Sommerer, 96, of Bissell Hills, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 6, 2023 at DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton, MO. Vernon was predeceased in 2007 by his wife of 55 years, Florence Josephine Wakefield Sommerer. His family included their only child, Mary Jane Piazza and her husband Ronald Piazza of Richmond, Massachusetts, grandsons Ian and Jordan Piazza both of Boston, MA and granddaughter Olivia Piazza of San Francisco. He is predeceased by his parents Adolph Mathias Sommerer and Theresa A. M. Erhardt Sommerrer, and 9 of his 11 siblings and their spouses: Elizabeth (and Justin) Williams, Lillian (and Theodore) Kuegele, Erhardt “Bud” (and Alma) Sommerer, Felix (and Carol) Sommerer, Marjorie (and Edgar) Beck, Beatrice (and Fred) Putnam, Mahlon Sommerer, Cleopha Howard, Naomi (and Louis) Vetter, and brother in law Ralph Sommerer. He is survived by two siblings: Loyola “Lolly” Sommerer and Lloyd (and Jane) Sommerer, sisters-in-law Marylynn Sommerer and Dorothy Stubinger, 32 nieces and nephews and countless other relatives, church and neighborhood friends.
Vernon led a remarkable life, He was born at home in Jefferson City Mo, the 6th of 12 children, in October 1926, where he grew up doing every aspect of farming and supporting his family through the Great Depression and WWII. At 19 years old, he left the farm and was proud to serve in the US Army in Tokyo, Japan from 1946-7 as a military police in the Japanese War Crimes Trials after the conclusion of WWII. He returned to Missouri where he was fortunate to work at the General Motors’ Chevrolet assembly plant in North St. Louis for 39 years till his retirement in 1988. As a member of “The Greatest Generation,” he inspired all with his stories of hard work, dedication to family, church, and country, which he recalled with tremendous clarity. He was a polite, humble man, who’s actions spoke louder than his words.
Vernon and Florence were lifetime, sustaining members of Berea Lutheran Church then Grace Lutheran Church in North St. Louis County Missouri, carrying out his Missouri Synod Lutheran heritage and faith. He played no sports except cards. He was self-educated through books and his natural curiosity for all people and things. His interests centered around his family, friends, church, neighborhood, and tending his home and vegetable gardens, while always being of service to others. His goal was to visit all 50 United States, and after retirement enjoyed driving trips to his family in New England, as well as Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama, Greece, Scandinavia, Russia and a Grand Tour of Europe.
In 2008, Vernon was blessed to meet the acquaintance of Mrs. Wanda McCabe, a widow with whom he kept company, traveled, enjoyed Sunday games of Kings’ Corners, and helped one another in their advancing years.
Visitation and funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Chapel starting at 9 a.m., with visitation in the church narthex between 9 and 11 a.m. His funeral, officiated by Pastor Nathan Ruback, will begin at 11 a.m., followed immediately by a luncheon by the Ladies of the church. Following the luncheon, all are invited to Vernon’s commitment and military burial at Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens, 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue at St. Charles Rock Road, St. Louis, MO.
Memorials may be made to the encouragement and continuance of Christian education for young lives through Grace Chapel Lutheran School, 10015 Lance Drive, Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO 63137.
Aunt Cleo is with Jesus now
Cleopha “Cleo” Freida-Marie Howard, 87, of Jefferson City, Missouri passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2022. She was born on March 15, 1935 in Schubert, Missouri, a daughter of the late Adolph and Theresa (Erhardt) Sommerer.
She was a 1953 graduate of Cole V R-I High School in Eugene. Cleo went on to attend Lincoln University. She worked for Capital City Telephone as an operator for over 30 years, earning her gold pin upon retirement. Cleo enjoyed growing flowers and tomatoes in her garden. She loved to sing and was a member of the Faith Lutheran church choir and the Sweet Adeline’s for many years. Most of all she loved her family and making memories with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
Cleo is survived by her daughter, Julie Baker; siblings, Vernon Sommerer, Theresa Loyola Sommerer and Lloyd Sommerer (Jane); grandchildren, Scott Baker (Som), Shawn Baker (Jeromy Layman) and Sarah Jones (Ryan); great-grandchildren, Matthew, Adam and Jonathan Jones, Soloman, Samson and Silas Baker. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Greer Baker; siblings, Elizabeth Williams, Lillian Kuegule, Erhardt “Bud” Sommerer, Felix Sommerer, Marjorie Beck, Anna Beatrice Putnam, Mahlon Sommerer and Naomi Vetter; brothers-in-law, Justin Williams, Ted Kuegule, Edgar Beck, Fred Putnam and Louis Vetter; sisters-in-law, Alma Sommerer and Carol Sommerer.
Friends will be received on Friday, October 7, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Houser-Millard Funeral Directors. Funeral service will be on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church with a one-hour visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. prior to service.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Calvary Lutheran High School.