Obit: Summers, Laverne "Chuck" (1921 - 2007)

Transcribed by: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Summers, Mescher, Jopke, Williams, Klug, Waid, Fukey, Clesen, Devaney, Hortah

---Source: Foto News (Merrill, Lincoln County, Wis.) Wednesday, 7 Feb. 2007; page 10

---Summers, Laverne "Chuck" (18 May 1921 - 29 Jan. 2007)

Laverne "Chuck" Summers

Laverne "Chuck" Summers, 85, of Merrill, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Born in New Vienna, Iowa, on May 18, 1921, Chuck was the son of the late Bernard and Ida Mescher Summers. He married Mary Jopke on Oct. 27, 1951, in Merrill. She survives.

Chuck graduated from St. Boniface High School in New Vienna, Iowa. He then served as a Sgt. Major in the U.S. Army Air Force as an instructor during World War II. After the war he attended Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis, Minn. Chuck was sent to Merrill for his first job as a radio broadcaster in 1948 at WLIN in Merrill, where he was honored with the National; "Radio Star of the Year" Award.

Chuck's love for baseball is what brought him to Merrill where he was known as the voice of the Merrill Rangers baseball team. He later worked for WSAU Radio as the morning announcer and also for WSAU-TV on the Noon Show. In 1964 Chuck took a sales position with Whitburn Motors, retiring in 1991. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus-Council 1133 which he served as treasurer, served as chairman of the Chilsen Shack Old Timers Club, and was a member of the Waid Funeral Home Coffee Group. Chuck was a founding member of the West Side Keg Club, the Garden Club, the Friendly Foxes, and the Belle-Acres Hunting Club. He enjoyed woodworking, snowmobiling, camping, hunting and fishing, and watching sports. He was an avid Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs fan. Chuck loved spending time with his friends, family and his dog Major. His quick wit and sense of humor will be sadly missed.

Survivors include his wife Mary, Merrill; son Bill (VaLynda), Sayner; daughters Sarah (Doug) Williams, Merrill; Tess (Scott) Klug, Madison; and Missy (Paul) Waid, Merrill; grandsons Doug, Ben and Kellen Williams, Keefe, Brett and Collin Klug; and Kurt (Kasi) and Matt Waid; and granddaughter Elly Waid.

Also surviving are his sister Lucille (Harlan) Fukey, Hot Spring Village, Ark.; and his mother-in-law Dora Jopke, Merrill. He was preceded in death by brothers Leonard and Cletus and sisters Lydia Clesen and Marie Devaney.

Funeral services were Saturday, Feb. 3, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Merrill. Rev. James Horath officiated. Burial was in Merrill Memorial Park. A Knights of Columbus service was held Friday evening at the Waid Funeral Home in Merrill.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given in Chuck's memory.

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