Josephine Sommer

Josephine “Jo” E.  Sommer, 99 of Pekin, IL passed away April 23, 2022 at Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria. Jo was born on August 15, 1922 to Amos and Kathryn Conrad in Canton, Ohio. She married Theodore (Ted) Sommer on September 26, 1943 and they made their home in Pekin, IL.

Jo grew up on a farm in Smithville, Ohio where she learned the value of hard work, milking cows and pitching hay. Jo graduated from Smithville High School and attended Bluffton College where she met her future husband, Ted. She was a longtime member of Bethel Mennonite Church in Pekin and then First Mennonite Church in Morton. She loved God and practiced her faith throughout her life. She loved her family, taking care of her home and spending time in her flower garden. She and her husband Ted enjoyed taking many trips throughout the United States and abroad, hosting family slide shows upon their return.

Jo was preceded in death by her beloved husband Ted in January 2016. She was also preceded by one son, Steven Sommer, one daughter-in-law, Susan Sommer, and one infant granddaughter. It was a grand reunion when they were all reunited in heaven. She is survived by three children, Jim (Kay) Sommer of Tremont, IL, Barb (Jim) Wieferich of Marietta, OH, and Judy (Dan) Thiessen of Monument, CO. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service is planned for Tuesday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. at Davis-Oswald Funeral Home in Tremont. A visitation will precede from 9:30-10:15 a.m. Pastor Aaron Yoder will officiate and burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin.

Memorials may be made to Camp Friedenswald, 15406 Watercress Way, Cassopolis, MI 49031 or Bluffton University, 1 University Drive, Bluffton, OH 45817.

To express condolences online visit www.davisoswaldfh.com.

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