Obituaries
Obituary for Richard Walter Sommers
RICHARD WALTER SOMMERS, 88, of Prophetstown, IL, died Saturday, July 20, 2013, at his home. Dick was born March 12, 1925, in Prophetstown, IL, to Walter Arthur and Leona Clara (Egert) Sommers. He was educated in the Prophetstown Grade Schools and graduated from Prophetstown High School in 1943. Dick served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943-1946 during WWII in the V. Amphibious Artillery 155MM Battalion. He married Margaret Ruth Schehl on July 19, 1952, in Prophetstown, IL. Dick and Marge were able to celebrate 61 years of marriage. Dick went from the service to work at the Sommers Song Shop in downtown Prophetstown, with his father. He then held various positions for the United States Postal Service for 46 years. He also delivered the Sunday morning Quad City Times for 21 years. Dick was a member of St. Catherine"s Catholic Church in Prophetstown, IL. Growing up, Dick was a standout 3 sport athlete in high school, earning the nickname "Samson". He was a part of the undefeated football teams of 1941-1942. He also excelled in baseball and fast pitch softball. He went to the International Softball League World tournament with the Tampico Merchants in 1953, where they finished 2nd. He was a very accomplished bowler, being inducted into the Mississippi Rock River Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1999, and loved to tell that he won a Hudson from bowling in the early 1950"s. He was a Boy Scout/Cub Scout commander, being very active in the scouts when his sons were young. He was involved with Little League Baseball and Softball programs and was the American Legion Baseball manager/coach for 25 years. Dick, with the help of this father, Walt"s P.A. system, was the public address announcer for the home football games from 1946-1976; and he supported the football teams by never missing a home game until 1986. Dick served on the Prophetstown Board of Education, where he was proud to have been involved with the first addition to the high school and its new gym. He was a member of the Prophetstown Athletic Booster Club, and the Prophetstown Lions Club. He was a part of the forming of the Prophetstown Historical Society as well as the Prophetstown Main Street, he was excited about wanting everyone to know the history of his town as well as promote the town to everyone. He was a lifelong member of the Prophetstown American Legion Post 522, where he served as Post Commander as well as holding several other positions of office. After marrying his wife Marge, he took great joy in being a part of their Fitzgerald Reunions that took place every summer. The reunion took them to many different states around the country and he truly enjoyed his time with his extended family. In his later years, he was thrilled to be reunited with those he served with in the Marines, attending countless Marine Corps reunions that also took him around the country-his fondest one to Washington D.C. where he got to see the WWII memorial. Richard rarely missed an extra-curricular event of his children when they were growing up, and especially enjoyed supporting his grandchildren in their endeavors, he was a fixture in the stands for many years-making countless road trips and enjoying the variety of popcorn he got to sample along the way. Survivors include his wife, Marge; three daughters, Kim (Greg) Schmitt, Kate (Tony) Cody, and Karyn (Trent) Buck all of Prophetstown, IL; one daughter-in-law, Margie Sommers of Prophetstown, IL; three sons, Kurt (Carolyn) Sommers of San Diego, CA; Kerry (Kathy) Sommers of Coal Valley, IL; and Kraig (Jessie) Sommers of Freeport, IL; thirteen grandchildren, Jon (Erin), Kiley, Tessa, Maggie (Adam), Brady (Melissa), Taylor, Allie, Morgan, Marquise, Allisa, Emma, Kory, Kennedy; three step grandchildren, Erica (Jeremy), Matt, and Alex; three great-grandchildren, Mykinzie, Dakota, Benjamin, and one on the way; one sister, Diane (Robert) Roman of Prophetstown, IL; three sisters-in-law, Shirley McKenna of Prophetstown, IL; Marilyn (Bernard) Null of Erie, IL; and Eileen Detra of Prophetstown, IL; two brothers-in-law, Dennis (Maureen) Schehl of Sykesville, MD and Bill (Judy) Schehl of Cambridge, IL; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one son, Kris W. Sommers; one granddaughter, Nikole Sommers; three brothers-in-law, Ron Holtz, Robert McKenna, and Neil Detra.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 11:00 A.M., Thursday " July 25, 2013 at St. Catherine Catholic Church " Prophetstown, ILOFFICIATING: Father Dan Peters " St. Katharine Drexell Catholic Church " Sugar Grove , ILVISITATION: 4:00-8:00 P.M., Wednesday " July 24, 2013 at the Bosma-Gibson Funeral Home, 320 Lafayette Street, Prophetstown, ILINTERMENT: Riverside Cemetery " Prophetstown, IL
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FUNERAL SERVICE: 11:00 A.M., Thursday " July 25, 2013 at St. Catherine Catholic Church " Prophetstown, ILOFFICIATING: Father Dan Peters " St. Katharine Drexell Catholic Church " Sugar Grove , ILVISITATION: 4:00-8:00 P.M., Wednesday " July 24, 2013 at the Bosma-Gibson Funeral Home, 320 Lafayette Street, Prophetstown, ILINTERMENT: Riverside Cemetery " Prophetstown, IL
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