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Uncle Ralph, we will miss you.

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Ralph James Sommerer, 90, of Jefferson City, passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2020 at Landmark Hospital in Columbia, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on October 15, 1930 in Jefferson City; a son of the late Herman and Edith (Raithel) Sommerer. He was united in marriage to Theresa (Lolly) Sommerer on August 10, 1958 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Honey Creek.

Ralph was a graduate of Eugene High School. He attended the University of Missouri – Columbia, School of Agriculture, graduating in 1958. After teaching vocational agriculture for six years, he began working for MFA as a fieldman. He worked for the Missouri State Highway Department, District 5 for over 24 years, retiring as an appraiser.

Ralph served as a baseball commissioner for 25 years for the Brazito Honey Creek Lions Club. He was a school board member at Eugene High School and Immanuel Lutheran School in Honey Creek. Ralph was a 4-H livestock leader and served on many boards at Immanuel Lutheran Church. He was primary owner of the H/R Cattle Company.

Ralph was proud of the fact that he had the first chain saw in Cole County. He loved to hear his family play and sing bluegrass and country music and was a huge supporter of the Makers Dozen, a bluegrass gospel group, at Immanuel Lutheran. Ralph was an avid Cardinals baseball fan who enjoyed talking about former baseball players that he coached. Most of all, he enjoyed spending as much time as he could with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Theresa; children: Danny Sommerer (Denise), David Sommerer (Joni), Douglas Sommerer (Melissa), Samuel Sommerer (Rachel) and Rev. Steve Sommerer (Melanie); grandchildren: Joshua Sommerer (Tiffany), Katie Ringwald (Anthony), Vincent Sommerer (Haley), Whitni Upton (Josh), Chance Sommerer (Emily), Lance Sommerer (Layken), Hance Sommerer, Joseph Sommerer, John Sommerer, Leah Sommerer, Anna Sommerer, Gracen Sommerer, Daniel Sommerer, Ezra Sommerer, Micah Sommerer; great-grandchildren: Theodore Ringwald, Abigail Ringwald, Ethan Sommerer and Truett Sommerer; sister: Doris Propst and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, family and friends.

After the death of Ralph’s parents when he was 14, he was raised by Uncle Edward and Aunt Edna Sommerer, who also preceded him in death. Ralph was also preceded in death by his son: Shawn Matthew Sommerer; his sisters: Frances Frasher and Norma Sommerer; brother: Walter Sommerer; cousins: John Sommerer and Robert Sommerer.

Friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 21, 2020 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Honey Creek. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Tony Fields officiating. Interment will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Honey Creek.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Gym Restoration Fund or Calvary Lutheran High School.

Millard Family Chapels page for Ralph Sommerer

Danny wanted me to pass on this information about the funeral Monday:

  1. There will not be a big lunch after the funeral. Just a small lunch for Aunt Lolly, her sons and their families. 
  2. If you would prefer, you can attend the funeral service in your car by parking in the church parking lot and tuning your radio to 104.1 FM. The broadcast will start about 15 minutes before the funeral. You are welcome to come in and pay your respects before the service if you wish.
  3. Because of social distancing requirements, there will be somewhat limited seating in the church, so some of us might have to attend the funeral via the drive in option. I’m not really sure how much seating there will be. Maybe someone more in the know can reply.
  4. The visitation before the funeral service will be normal. 

Your chance to be the first to use a brand new outhouse!

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A message from Pete:

I was going to do a raffle at Heit’s Point this year for the EXCLUSIVE
right to be the very first one to use Dad’s (Mahlon’s) re-furbished
outhouse. As you can see from the pictures, this is no ORDINARY outhouse. It has a walnut seat and cedar lined backing from lumber that I cut myself and had milled.

Of all of our aunts and uncles and older cousins, I have NEVER heard
anyone say that he/she was the very first to use a new outhouse! NOW is
your opportunity.

Whoever individually, or whatever group of family comes up with
the $325 to put us to the $10,000 mark for Heit’s Point will win that exclusive right to be the first to use this outhouse.

That will be the good news. The bad news is that I am unable and MOSTLY
unwilling to bring the outhouse to you! Sorry.

Becky’s Change Challenge

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Dear Family,

As you have read in Lloyd’s Family Emails about Heit’s Point, I Have Been CHALLENGED. With a lot of thought, this is my response and my challenge back at the Family. HERE I GO…

I am going to confess my DEEP Dark Secret of my Life!!! I am a JAR hoarder!!! I humor myself by filling them with coins. My sister has given me many unique wine and whisky bottles (EMPTY) over the years to fill with coins. 

This was a head shaker for my son when we moved. His dad had to tell him, quote, “Don’t ask, just move them.” The Jars of Coins come with stories throughout my married life. They were backup money for vacations, or taxes, or “give a life lesson to your son about giving….”

My story with my son is a Jar of Dimes. When my son graduated from high school and went off to college, it was very hard for me to come home from work with him not there. I was thankful for Christmas Vacation and his return home. His return came with the statement, “I have no money for Christmas Gifts.”My lesson to him was to sit down at the table and to sort and roll a Jar of Dimes. Then he could take them to the bank and cash them in for Christmas Gift Money. 

That day was great. We laughed. We talked about presents for his dad. We bet on how much money the dimes would make. I got good quality time out of that Jar of Dimes.

This is my answering challenge to Lloyd and Pete: I am giving 1 Jar of Dimes, 1 Jar of Nickels, 1 Jar of Pennies and 1 Jar of Quarters. I challenge you to clean the cupholders in your car and your ashtrays. Give your change to Heit’s Point. Give a week’s allowance. Give what you can because it is getting doubled by our Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. I intend to take their money, and thank you to them for offering it. 

Becky Cary

Heit’s Point Donation Challenge

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At the start of the Summer, one of the things that you said on the surveys was that you want to donate to Heit’s Point whether we had the family reunion or not. Let’s make that happen!

Double your gift. Some of your aunts, uncles and cousins have decided step forward and double whatever the rest of the family gives up to $4,000.00. If you give $100, they will pitch in enough to make that to $200. If you give $500, they will make it $1,000. So let’s really stick it to these guys and make them double a lot of money. There is a time limit, we have until the end of September for donations to be doubled.

How much should you give? Some people suggested what it normally takes for your family to participate in the Family Reunion: money for travel, food, lodging, shared expenses, Sunday morning offering, and so forth. But the blessings I receive from seeing you all far exceed that amount. And besides, Uncle Lloyd told me I should give more than that, and you’re suppose to listen to your Dad. Give what you can. Give as you have been blessed.

How can I give? You can make a donation to Heit’s Point in a number of different ways:

  • Send Heit’s Point a check. Make it out to Heit’s Point Lutheran Ministries and mail it to 28345 Heit’s Point Ave, Lincoln MO 65338. Send me a picture of the check, so that we know how much to double.
  • Donate with a Credit or Debit card (or Paypal) by using this link (then click on one of the the donation button). Send me a picture of the confirmation message or forward the confirmation email to me at lloyd@LloydAndLauren.com, so that we know how much to double.
  • What if you, like Peter, have already donated? Just send me some sort of confirmation. If you can’t find anything, just let me know and I’ll verify it with Heit’s Point.

What will the money go for? The Spitz Center is about 25 years old and needs a new roof. We make use of the Spitz Center every year, so that seemed like a good spot to put our money. If you have other ideas, feel free to designate your gift for something else or just as a general donation. It’s all good.

Want to be a doubler? If you are feeling especially generous and want to be part of the group of aunts, uncles and cousins who are doubling the amounts, let me know. This is not an open ended commitment. You still get to decide what you are blessed to give.

What if I don’t want anyone to know how much I give? First of all, I’m the only one who will know. The aunts, uncles and cousins who are doubling the amounts don’t want to know who gave what. They just want to know the total amount. But if you don’t want me to know, that’s fine. You should still give. It’s still a great cause to give to even without the amount being doubled.

How else can I help? First of all, talk to your family members. Encourage everyone to participate. Ask your sons and daughter or your siblings if they have made a donation yet. And talk to family members who might not have seen this because they don’t read the website or email.

Is my gift tax deductible? Yes. Heit’s Point is a 501(c)(3) organization and, if you use itemized deductions when you file your taxes, this donation is tax deductible.

Did I forget anything? Do you have any other questions? Just let me know and I’ll get the information for you.

Aunt Bea is with Jesus now.

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Aunt Bea went to be with her savior this morning around 3:30am. We will all miss her so much.

The visitation and the funeral will be this Saturday, July 18th at Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City (2027 Industrial Drive). Visitation will be from 12-1pm and the service will follow from 1-2pm. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery on West Main Street and afterwards there will be refreshments aback at the church.

The family suggests that memorials be given to Calvary Lutheran School in Jefferson City. That’s the still in my mind new high school where a fair number of our cousins have attended.

You can read Aunt Bea’s obituary here. There are also maps to the Church and Cemetery. Aunt Bea was 90 years old this year.

Greer Baker Went to Heaven on Thursday

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Scott said it well:

My father reported in to the highest level of command today at 1740L. Godspeed SSGT Baker, you are missed.

We will all keep Julie, Scott, Sarah and Shawn and their families in our prayers, knowing that we will be one day reunited with Greer in heaven.

  • Visitation will be Friday, August 3 from 5:00 – 7:00PM at Houser-Millard Funeral Home (2613 West Main Street in Jefferson City)
  • Funeral Service will be at Saturday, August 4 at 10:00am at Faith Lutheran (2027 Industrial Drive in Jefferson City)
  • Internment to follow the service at Riverside Cemetery.

All of the detail are available on the Millard Family Chapels website, including the obituary, which I am going to include below.

Greer G. Baker, 69, of Jefferson City, passed away on Thursday July 26, 2018 at Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico, Missouri. He was born on May 22, 1949; a son of the late Malcom “Keith” and Joy Baker of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was united in marriage to Julie Raina Howard at Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City on June 27, 1981.

Greer served in The U.S. Navy from 1969-1971 as Fire Control Technician with a rank of Petty Officer assigned to the USS Myles C. Fox Destroyer. As the Vietnam War wound down, his ship embarked on a goodwill tour of duty to South American countries that included coordinating naval exercises with various South American navies. He served in the Missouri Army National Guard 1982-1998. In 1991, the now Staff Sergeant Baker served in the 35th RAOC (Rear Action Operations Center) in Desert Shield operations while deployed to Desert Storm and based at King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia. After conclusion of the war, he joined the 1221st Transportation Division until retirement from the Guard.

Mr. Baker was employed in Jefferson City at various state agencies: Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education – Division of Disability Determinations; Missouri Dept. of Social Services – Division of Child Abuse and Neglect; Missouri Penitentiary where he taught adult basic education. He also taught history at Columbia College, worked at The Prenger Family Center, and was a former agent for Allstate Insurance Co. He retired from the Missouri Department of Corrections as a case worker at the Algoa Correctional Facility. Mr. Baker was a member of MENSA; a lifelong, avid, student of history; valued his military service openly and vigorously as a patriotic duty; and, was a lifetime member of The Elks. He attended Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City.

He is survived by his loving wife, three children: Master Sergeant, USAF, Scott Estes Baker and wife Sukanchana (Som) currently of Scott AFB, Swansea, Illinois; Sarah Renae Jones (RN, Capitol Region Medical Center) and husband Ryan; Shawn Keith Baker (RN, Capitol Region Medical Center) and his partner Jeromy Scott Layman all of Jefferson City, Missouri. He was especially proud of his five grandchildren: Matthew Thomas, Adam Jeffrey, Jonathan David Jones, Solomon Greer, and Samson Bowon Baker. Greer was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends will be received from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 3, 2018, at Houser-Millard Funeral Directors. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 4, 2017 at Faith Lutheran Church with Pastor Tony Alter officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow in Riverview Cemetery.

In lieu of expressions of sympathy, the family requests each person spend quality time with their own family and enjoy being together.