Sommer, Nellie (1938-1973)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 29 Mar 1973 p. 2

Birth date: 1938

text of obituary

Wife of Lakeland, Fla. Plant Manager Shot to Death

Kidron, Ohio. — Relatives from this community were called to Lakeland, Fla. due to the tragic death of Mrs. Nellie Sommer, 35, whose husband, John Sommer, is manager of the Kidron Body Co. plant there.

According to information received here, Mrs. Sommer was fatally shot by a former employee of her beauty shop. Mrs. Sommer had dismissed the 38-year-old woman several years ago. The woman visited at the Sommer home the morning of March 14, and at noon phoned Mrs. Sommer for assistance, stating she had run out of gas about 18 miles from Lakeland.

As Mrs. Sommer approached the location in her car, she was shot twice and her auto veered into an orange grove. She died later while in surgery. Her assailant was later apprehended and after a preliminary hearing, sent to the psychiatric ward of a hospital.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Sommer leaves a three-year-old son, John Jr. Mr. Sommer’s father, Ira Sommer, is vice-president of the Kidron Body Co. of Kidron.