Sommer, Oscar Julius (1886-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Jul 13 p. 3

Birth date: 1886

text of obituary:

Co-Founder of Illinois Seed Company Dies

O. J. SOMMER DEVOTED LIFE TO AGRICULTURE AND CHURCH WORK

Pekin, Ill. — Funeral services for O. J. Sommer, 75, co-founder of the Sommer Bros. Seed Company here, took place Wednesday afternoon, July 5, at the Bethel Mennonite church. Death came July 3 at the University of Chicago clinic after two years of failing health.

A well-known agriculturist, Mr. Sommer and his brother Arthur in 1909 founded the seed company in which he continued active the rest of his life. He was president of the board at the time of his death. This firm carries on extensive operations in the Midwest.

Mr. Sommer was first president of the Illinois Crop Improvement Assn. in the 1920s and a charter member of the Tazewell Farm Bureau. He was also a charter member of the Bethel Church, where he served in various capacities of leadership. Service to the church at large included many years as treasurer of the Central Conference of Mennonites and several terms on the General Conference Board of Education.

Surviving are his wife, Rosella; three children, Theodore, president of Sommer Bros. Seed Co., Mrs. Robert (Lois) Kreider of Bluffton, O., and Dr. John L. Sommer of Chicago; 10 grandchildren; and one brother, Arthur Sommer.

The funeral services were largely attended by friends from Illinois and nearby states.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Aug 3 p. 8
The Mennonite obituary: 1961 Jul 18 p. 462