Orville Somermeyer 1921-2003

SOMERMEYER, ARNDT, QUANDAHL, CORRIGAN, PETERSON, FRITZ

Posted By: SGF (email)
Date: 10/16/2003 at 04:52:46

Orville Somermeyer, age 82, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, died unexpectedly Sunday, May 25, 2003, at the Henry County Health Center. Funeral services were held Thursday, May 29 at the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant with the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kelly officiating. Burial was in the Forest Home Cemetery with full military rites. Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, Mt. Pleasant, assisted with arrangements. Memorials have been established to the First Presbyterian Church in his memory. Orville John Somermeyer was born February 26, 1921, in Aberdeen, S.D., the son of Otto and Elsie (Arndt) Somermeyer. He spent his youth on a farm near New Albin and graduated from Waukon High School. On September 6, 1940, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He served his country for six years during World War II and had earned the rank of Quartermaster First Class at the time of his discharge in 1946. On March 22, 1947, he married Betty Mae Quandahl in Waterloo. The Somermeyers lived in New Albin and Iowa City prior to moving to Mt. Pleasant in 1959, where they have resided ever since. Orville was employed by the United States Department of Agriculture, specializing in animal disease prevention. He served the department for 25 years and retired in 1982.
Orville especially loved his granddaughters and spending time with his family. He enjoyed feeding the birds and watching them. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant and the American Legion Post #58. Orville enjoyed attending reunions with veterans who served with him on the USS Chicago (CA29), USS Sangamon, USS Chicago (CA136) and the USS Vicksburg vessels. He is survived by his wife, Betty of Mt. Pleasant; one son, Ronald (Mary) Somermeyer of Madison, Wis.; two daughters, Ann Corrigan of Mt. Pleasant and Karen (Don) Peterson of Madison; and six granddaughters. Also surviving is one brother, Milton (Gertrude) Somermeyer of New Albin; two stepsisters, Sharon (Dick) Royston of Mazomanie, Wis., and Mitzi (Steve) Skallet of Mt. Horeb, Wis. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Robert and Rowland Somermeyer; and one sister, Bernice Fritz.

©Waukon Standard 2003
-source: Waukon Standard June 4, 2003