Arthur A. Sommer

Memorial Mass for Arthur Sommer, 81, Lawrence, KS will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence. He passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family.

Art was born on September 9, 1938 in Lawrence, KS, the son of the late Albert and Charlotte (Hadl) Sommer.

Art attended New York School, Lawrence Jr. High School and Lawrence High School.

Art was a business owner of Art’s Cycle Shop and Lawrence Yamaha.

He then worked for Morgan Concrete for many years.

He drove “Old Yeller” for Don Baxter and was an active member of the Wheel Sports Club.

He was a fun loving dad and grandpa. Art deeply loved his parents and siblings.

Art enjoyed motorcycle riding, boating (loved teaching his kids to ski), cranking homemade ice-cream, fishing (frying up a mess of crappie), tending a beautiful garden, running the trains for his grandchildren and playing Santa for his children, nieces and nephews.

He married Verma Rome on December 5, 1970 in Topeka, KS. She survives the home.

Survivors include his children; Laurie E. Sommer, Missy (Hiram-deceased) Salvini, Kevin Sommer from his first marriage to Judy Demos. Other children include; Lisa (Doug) Gaston, Lori (Kevin) Durrant, Lyle Hammerschmidt. Grandchildren; Lauren (Caitlin) Ballard, Brandon Salvini, Maggie Salvini, Emma Salvini, Sean (Michelle) Coffman, Cory Gaston, Katie Gaston, Chris Gaston, Jarrett Durrant, Tyler Hammerschmidt, Tara Hammerschmidt, Alex Hammerschmidt. Great-grandchildren; Emma Borders, Madilynn Borders, Mae Ballard, brothers; Marvin (Carolyn) Sommer, Loren Joseph (Sherri Cannon) Sommer, sister, Karon (Gary) Kennedy, brother-in-law, Chuck (Mary-deceased) Ledom, and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be Rosary starting at 6:00 p.m., Monday, November 25, 2019 followed by a visitation until 8:00 p.m. at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the Lawrence Yamaha Thursday Night Group, Bob Morgan, his coffee buddy and lifelong friend Neal Eller.

The family suggests memorials in his name to Sarah Cannon Cancer Center C/O Kidney Cancer, VNA Hospice, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13 ^th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.