Surnames: Kommer, Rose, Olson, Schwantes, Randow, Jarchow, Zinsli, Nelson, Gripentrog, Stargardt, Gibbs, Andrew, Woehrle, Weister, Klabunde, Meyer, Schwabe, Buckel, Cichon, LaSee, Smazal, Anderson, Kuettel, Wittman, Kobs

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Friday, 20 Mar. 2009

Kommer, Norman A. (6 Nov. 1911 - 2009)

Spencer, Wis. -- Norman A. Kommer, 97, of Spencer, died Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen with his family by his side.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer. The Rev. Karl Rose and Rev. Robert Olson will officiate. Carla Schwantes will provide music.

Burial will be in the West Spencer Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Gregg Randow, James Kommer, Steve Jarchow, Zach Zinsli, Matt Nelson and Mike Nelson. Norman's other grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home in Spencer and from 10 a.m. until service time at the church on Saturday.

Norman August Kommer was born Nov. 6, 1911, in Spencer, a son of William Ferdinand and Minnie Albertina (Gripentrog) Kommer. He attended and graduated from Spencer High School in 1929. Norman was united in holy marriage to Erma Marie Stargardt on June 1, 1940, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer. The couple lived in Spencer, raising their children and where Norman operated a dairy farm.

Norman was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencer, extremely active in all areas of the church. For many years, he worked tirelessly for the Lutheran Hour and Lutheran Laymen's League. Norman enjoyed fishing, dancing with Erma, playing cards and following all sports, especially the Badgers. His greatest joy though, was spending time with the five generations of his wonderful family.

Mr. Kommer is lovingly survived by his wife of nearly 69 years, Erma; five children, Jayne (Thomas) Gibbs, Marshfield, Norman B. (Virginia) Kommer, Marshfield, Judi Andrew, Spencer, Marie (Steven) Zinsli, Monroe, and Gayle (Tom) Nelson, Spencer. Norman is further survived by 18 grandchildren, Sheri (Chuck) Woehrle, Loriann (Scott) Weister, Connie (Gregg) Randow, James (Amy) Kommer, Debbie (Jeff) Klabunde, Robin (Steve) Meyer, Tammi (Joe) Schwabe, Jonalee (Chris) Buckel, Lisa (Steve) Jarchow, Lynn (Shane) Cichon, Angel (Ryan Blasel) LaSee, April (Rod) Smazal, Zach (Wendy) Zinsli, Joe Zinsli, Jacob (Tiffany Anderson) Zinsli, Caleb Zinsli, Matt (Jennie) Nelson and Mike Nelson; 33 great-grandchildren, Seth (Laynette) Weister, Bethany, Tyson and Thane Weister, Carter and Cody Randow, Tyler, Tate and Abby Kommer, Troy (Bethany Kuettel) Klabunde, Trevor Klabunde, Alexis, Ashley and Bailey Meyer, Mikayla, Makenzie, Max and Maggie Schwabe, Jenna, Sadie, Marianna and Hayden Buckel, Natasha and Tanalee Jarchow, Cord Andrew, Torri and Courtney Ange, Kylie and Tristen Smazal, Brandon, Zoey and Summer Zinsli and Camryn Nelson; two great-great-grandchildren, Semiyhan and Desiah Weister; one sister, Ilma Kobs, Spencer; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents; two infant sons, Walter and John; a sister, Vila (George) Wittman; and a brother-in-law, Willard Kobs.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy in Mr. Kommer's name are encouraged to do so to either Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencer, or to the Lutheran Hour.