Lloyd Sommers

Lloyd Everett Sommers, 89, died at Walnut Grove Assisted Living, Middleton, Dec. 20, 2011. Born April 26, 1922, in Metamora, Ill., and reared in that state, he lived most of his adult life in Kenosha, moving to Madison in 2004.
After graduating from high school in 1940, he volunteered for military service, and after the United States entered World War II in December 1941, he continued to serve until 1945. He served from February 1942 until the summer of 1944 as a radio technician in the 132nd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division. His service included combat duty on Guadalcanal and Bougainville, and he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service on Guadalcanal.
Returning to Knoxville, Ill., after the war, he married Barbara Bantz LaFollette on Sept. 6, 1944, and the following year entered Knox College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry; lettered in football, basketball, and track (he was a hurdler); and was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity.
After two years of teaching high-school chemistry, he joined Smith-Douglas Fertilizer Co., Streator, Ill., as an analytical chemist and from then on made his career in industry, working briefly for Fansteel Metallurgical and then for many years at Johns-Manville Products Co., Waukegan, Ill. He was a member of the American Chemical Society.
He lived in Kenosha from 1957 until 2004. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Kenosha and was a dedicated Boy Scout leader, earning the Wood Badge and Silver Beaver Award. He and his wife, Barbara, were square dancers and round dancers and for many years were active in the Allemande Square Dance Club.
In 2004, he moved to Madison and lived in The Gardens independent living apartments, and then in Segoe Gardens Assisted Living, where he resided until shortly before his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Stanley, Franklin, and Edward, his sister Mabel, and his wife Barbara. He is survived by his son Larry (Joelle), Madison; his daughter Cynda (Stephen) Lewis, Houston, Texas; and a granddaughter Katherine (Peter Johnson) Sommers and great-granddaughter Elsie Josephine Johnson, all of Monona.
Memorial services, to be held in Madison and in Knoxville, Ill., will be announced at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church, Kenosha; Heritage Congregational Church, Madison; Agrace Hospice Care, Madison; or the Boy Scouts of America.