Benjamin Lloyd Sommer

Benjamin Lloyd Sommer, a life long Peorian, passed away on Monday August 30, 2021. Born on January 25, 1925 he was the son of Benjamin L. Sommer and Sara I. Sommer. His children are Susan L. Carlson (Richard) of Robinson, Illinois; Benjamin L. Sommer II (Wendy) of Woodstock, Georgia and Stephen C. Sommer (Kimberly) of Geneva, Illinois. Grandchildren are Diana Carlson Strange, Jeffrey Carlson, Benjamin L. Sommer IV, Hillary, Brittany, Alexa and Katie Sommer and five great-grandchildren.

He loved all his children and was always concerned for their well being and future. Ben’s father died in the prime of his life leaving Ben’s mother with three small children and one to be born. Due to strong family ties, his mother raised four children to adulthood.

Ben was the last of his generation of an Industrial family that has lived in Woodford, Tazewell and Peoria Counties since the nineteenth Century. Those that have gone before him were his loving wife, Phoebe; grandson, David; brother, Thomas; and sisters, Rosalie Wilson and Thelma Sommer. Ben and his brother and sisters were raised on a rural farm near what is now Sterling Avenue in Peoria. Ben attended Woodrow Wilson grade school and Woodruff High School. Near Graduation in 1943 he attended an accelerated college at Purdue University in Indiana which had an R.O.T.C. program. Turning eighteen in January 1943 he decided to enlist in the U.S. Army and was sent to the 78th Infantry Division in one of their Artillery Battalions. As a scout corporal he learned to read photo maps and to direct fire on targets. In 1944 the 7th Army in Europe was planning the invasion of Southern France and he was chosen to join a U.S. Army unit called the Shore Fire Patrol to communicate with the U.S. Navy for the coming invasion of France on August 15th, 1944.

In Italy his unit trained by landing on Angio Beach and communicating with the U.S. Destroyer firing live rounds from Italian waters on uninhabited land in Southern Italy. During the invasion, as they moved inland, they teamed up with elements of the 3rd U.S. Army Division to capture several hundred German soldiers. Ben was later assigned to the 575th Filed Artillery Battalion with eight- inch guns that were able to fire twenty miles. The 575th fought thru France into Germany until the spring of 1945.

Ben retired from the U.S. Army as a Sargent in early 1946. He enrolled at Bradley University where he met Phoebe Van Alstyne, the love of his life for 58 years. They were married in 1948. He finished his higher education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and graduated with a degree in Commerce in 1950.

Ben acquired Foremost Electric Company, a small electric motor repair company, and in 30 years developed it into an industrial equipment supplier and a large three phase and direct current motor repair facility.

He was a member of Peoria Rotary, the First Presbyterian Church and Trustee and Elder, the Mohamed Temple Lodge, the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Peoria and court 40 Jesters. In 1985 Phoebe and Ben started spending winters in Naples, Florida living in Foxfire Country Club. Ben enjoyed fishing with Naples and Peoria friends in Naples Bay. He loved sailing and was a member of the Ivy Club and Naples Sailing and Yacht Club. He camped for years with his young family in Eastern and Western National Parks and with groups of friends in Gulf Shores Alabama and Crystal Lake Wisconsin.

Wile living in Naples they were members of the First Presbyterian church. Returning to Peoria full time they joined the First Federated Church where he served on the Worship committee and as a Deacon. He always loved Pipe Organ music and helped with refurbishing the church pipe organ at First Federated. In 2012 Ben and Phoebe moved to the Lutheran Hillside Village.

Ben’s memorial service will be at 12:00 pm Saturday, October 16, 2021 at the Chapel of Peace in Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria. His visitation will be from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm also on Saturday at the Chapel. A private inurnment will take place at First Federated Church Columbarium with military honors.

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria.

Online condolences may be left for Ben’s family at www.woolsey-wilton.com.