James M. Sommers

James “Jim” Milton Sommers...

was born to George and Mae (Burgess) Sommers on November 3, 1942 in Dell Rapids, SD. He moved with his family to several small towns in the Dell Rapids area until the early 1950’s when he settled in Trosky, MN. He attended Pipestone High School in Pipestone, MN through the 10th grade. In 1958, he met Carole Carstensen at Hatfield and they were married on January 3, 1962 at First Lutheran Church in Pipestone. After their marriage, they lived in the Trosky area. He enlisted in the United States Army in August, 1962. While in the service he received his GED and also took some college classes for credit in diesel mechanics. On February 28, 1983, he was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of CWIII and they retired in Trosky. Jim, Dave and Carole started S & S Truck Repair in February 1983, a family owned business which it remains so today. In 1991, Jim sold S & S to Dave and pursued a truck parts business for three years before starting Sommers Trucking in 1994. He ran Sommers Trucking for three years when he suffered a heart attack which led to his retirement. In 2010, Jim and Carole started wintering in Donna, TX. In 2019, they moved to Pipestone. On March 3, 2021, he became a resident at the Minnesota Vets Home in Luverne, Minnesota where he died on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at the age of 78 years, seven months and 12 days.
Jim was the mayor of Trosky for 16 years. He enjoyed pheasant hunting with his two brothers, restoring old vehicles, making doll cribs and furniture and toys for his grandchildren. He was excellent in character assessment, high in integrity, straight forward and honest. Jim was a man of few words, but when he spoke you knew it was important.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Carole Sommers of Pipestone; four children, Dawn Sommers of Colorado Springs, CO, Dave (Sheila) Sommers of Pipestone, Dale Sommers of Trosky, and Debra VanMeeteren (significant other, Doug Smidt) of Luverne, MN; eight grandchildren, Brett, Kaitlyn, Melanie, Hope, Megan, McKenzie, Nic and Kayla; four great-grandchildren, Lexis, Adleigh, Kyler, and Emma; eight siblings, Carol Bisching of Creal Springs,, IL, Jan (Arlen) Roesner of Wilmar, MN, Judy (Larry) Palme of Apple Valley, MN, Linda “Alfie” (Geoffrey) Cahoon of Boulder, CO, Peggy (Alan) Sommers Young of Wendall, ID, Robert (Linda) Sommers of Hastings, MN, Stephen (Maureen) Sommers of South St. Paul, MN, and David Sommers of Trosky. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Jerry, Joe and John; one sister, Patricia Boss; and one sister-in-law, Robyn Sommers.