Gilbert H. Sommer, 93, of Valparaiso passed away very peacefully on Friday morning, January 20, 2012 at his Pines Village apartment in Valparaiso.  He was born on June 21, 1918 in Racine WI. to Max and Cresentia (Mattes) Sommer.  Gilbert served in the army air corps during World War 2. Gilbert and his wife Annie were both educated at the Art Institute of Chicago.

On August 22, 1953 in Chicago he married Antoinette Leonelli who preceded him in death in 2007. They were married for 54 years.  Gilbert worked as a Pattern Maker for R.F. Kaufman and Joyce Sportswear retiring in 1994. In 1996 Gil and Annie moved to and made their home in Punta Gorda Florida.  In 2009, Gil moved back to Valparaiso to be near his children and grandchildren.

Gilbert is survived by 3 children: Lisa (Sommer) Ewing of Valparaiso.  Paul Sommer of Valparaiso. Greg (Donna) Sommer, of Kaneohe, Hawaii. Three grandchildren; Shawn Ewing of Valparaiso, Sofia and Gabriel Sommer both of Valparaiso.

Memorial service will be held at St Teresa Avila Church on LaPorte Ave, Valparaiso on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations in Gilbert’s memory to:  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000 Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142. Tribute #30020467