Helen E. Sommer 1923 - 2018

SOMMER, FEDDERSEN, LUEDEMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/11/2018 at 16:36:48

Sioux City Journal
7 October 2018

Marion, Iowa, formerly Correctionville, Iowa

Helen E. Sommer, 95, formerly of Marion and Correctionville, passed away Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Madison, Wis., on her 74th wedding anniversary.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion, conducted by the Rev. Dennis Johnson. Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation with the family will be 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion.

Helen was born on 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, Ill. during World War II.

On Sept. 28, 1944 in Olin, Helen was united in marriage to Rev. Arnold E. Sommer. He passed away on Nov. 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, Va., Pamela (Dr. David) Thompson of Niantic, Conn., and Barbara (Jon) Townley of Waunakee, Wis.; 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.