John Leland Sommer

Graveside services for John Sommer 81 of Gillette, WY will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the American Legion Post #42 Drill Team. John Leland Sommer was born on October 8, 1936 in Burley, ID to Elenor Lewis-Draper and Francis Sommer. John attended school in Idaho and graduated in 1954 from Chalis Jr/Sr High School. John went on to service in the US Marines. John married Donna Vassar on October 15, 1961. The family moved to Gillette, WY in 1970. He worked for True Oil Company, Kemerling Welding, Flint Engineering, he owned and operated Sommers Welding and later for Phillips Welding. John enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, gardening, watching football and playing football and other games with his grandchildren. He also helped in the building of Bethlehem Community Church. John is survived by his wife, Donna Sommer; daughters, LouAnn K. (Jeff) Johnson of Las Vegas, NV; Wanda Estenson of Gillette, WY; and Kira (Matt) Valles of Gillette, WY; sister, Sharon (Bud) Hamilton of Idaho; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father, Francis Sommer; mother, Elenor Draper; step-father, Willis Draper; daughter, Julie Sommer-Ekwall; and brother, Ben Sommer. Memorials and condolences may be sent in John’s name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5^th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com