Willa Elaine Sommerfeld
Born: July 16th, 1925
Died: May 5th, 2012
Obituary
Willa Elaine Sommerfeld passed away 2:00 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2012, at Great River Medical Center - Klein Unit. Willa was born July 16, 1925, the youngest daughter of Oliver Milton and Lynda Caroline Christine Louise Weinrich Hull. Willa married Roy William Sommerfeld July 20, 1950 at the First United Methodist Church in Burlington. He preceded her in death on August 4, 2008. Willa attended Burlington schools including Saunderson, Horace Mann and Burlington High School. Willa's only employment was with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and its successors AT&T, US West and Qwest for a total of 43 years, primarily as a telephone operator. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers club and has many loyal friends and acquaintances. Willa was an active member of First United Methodist Church until a tragic fire destroyed the church in April of 2007. Her husband Roy was interested in politics and as a consequence Willa and Roy worked at polling stations at election time for many years. During their younger years, they were frequent participants in square dance groups. Willa's father moved the family to Burlington in 1924 from Burnside, IL where he had operated a restaurant. Willa developed her cooking skills from her father and her older sisters. Willa is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother Russell and her sisters Velna and Lena. She is survived by a nephew, James Hull and a niece, Carolyn Hull. The funeral service for Mrs. Sommerfeld will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 12th, in Lunning Chapel with the Rev. Michael Orthel officiating. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12:30 until the time of service. Memorials have been established for Des Moines County Humane Society, First United Methodist Church, and Community Action of Southeast Iowa.