Fredrick D. "Fred" Sommer

FRED SOMMER passed away on April 9, 2015, in Santa Rosa. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 71 years, Regina P. Sommer. Fred was the cherished father of Saandra Bertolini (Bob) of Santa Rosa and the late Bruce E. Sommer. Fred is also survived by two grandchildren, Robert Bertolini (Amelia Hobbs) and Ilsa Bertolini (Alexis Martinez), and two great-grandchildren, Theo Bertolini and Francesca Bertolini. Fred was predeceased by seven brothers and sisters and survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Fred was born in Spirit, WI on October 1, 1915. During the Great Depression, when Fred was 18, he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which provided jobs for young men. In 1943, while serving in the U.S. Army, he met Genie at a dance in Oakland, CA. Fred was sent to the Philippines during WWII, and returned to Petaluma at the end of the war where he began his career as a barber. Fred was an avid snow skier and he and Genie moved to Sacramento in 1972 to be closer to the slopes. After his retirement in 1980, Fred became a volunteer for Kaiser Permanente in South Sacramento, assisting in patient services for 20 years. In his free time Fred loved to golf, read, and play cards with his friends and family, and made the rounds of all the popular ski locales in the Tahoe area until he was 90. Healthy and strong until the end of his life (and only six months shy of his 100th birthday), Fred will be greatly missed for his great laugh and rich stories. Friends and family are invited to attend the Memorial Service on Friday, May 1, 2015 at 11am at Faith Lutheran Church in Santa Rosa (4930 Newanga Ave, Santa Rosa, 95407). A private family burial service was held on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at Cypress Hill Memorial Park, Petaluma. Donations may be made to St. Lukes Lutheran Church, 7595 Center Parkway, Sacramento, CA 95823. Family assisted by PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, Petaluma.