Roger Keith SUMNERS

SUMNERS, SOULTS, FOSSE, KINNISON, GIST, BLOCK, MARTINI, HECOX, MELHUS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/17/2007 at 20:19:26

Wright County Monitor
24 October 2007

Roger "Bud" Keith Sumners, age 76, a lifelong resident of Clarion, passed away Wednesday, October 17, 2007. A funeral service was held Monday, October 22nd at the Clarion United Church of Christ. Pastor Tim Platt officiated the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was held at Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Roger "Bud" Keith Sumners was born September 6, 1931, in Clarion, the son of Harold K. and Marjorie (Soults) Sumners. He attended Clarion schools, graduating in 1949. He then attended Michigan State University, and then entered the Army after graduation in 1953 as a Second Lieutenant. He served from 1954-1956. Bud then returned to his hometown of Clarion and joined this father, Harold, as the third generation Sumners Insurance Agency which had been founded by his grandfather, Harry in 1934. On Augusut 2, 1958, Roger married Margaret Ann Fosse at the Lutheran Church in Radcliffe. Margaret was an elementary school teacher in Clarion. To this union four daughters were born. Roger was known as a community leader and an involved citizen. He served as President of the Clarion Jaycees, Clarion Chamber of Commerce, the Clarion Development Commission, and the Clarion Rotary Club. He was active in the Rotary Foreign Exchange Student Program as well as being named a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and American Legion. Roger served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank for 20 years, was instrumental in bringing KRIT-FM radio to Clarion, a charter member of the Lake Cornelia Improvement Association, and a member of the Church of Christ. A personal highlight was being elected president of the Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, as well as being named Grand Marshal for the Festival in the Park Paradge in 1992.

Roger was diagnosed as having Parkinson's disease in his forties and as a result became active in the Parkinson's Association and eventually took over as the facilitator for a Parkinson's support group that met in Wright County. He sold Sumners Insurance Agency to Bud and Bonnie Young and continued to work until retirement. He loved watching sports, both on TV and as a spectator. He cherished the time he spent with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret of Clarion; four daughters-Michelle Kinnison and husband, Doug of Niwot, Colorado; Lisa Gist and husband, Robin of Des Moines; Lori Block and husband, Dan of Cedar Falls; Amy Martini and husband, Jean Francois of Sunnyvale, California; eight grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Roger was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters-Beverly Hecox and Marilyn Melhus; and one infant sister.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wright Medical Center, Clarion Public Library or the Clarion Church of Christ.