James Arthur Sommers

James A. Sommers, passed away on October 14, 2024. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for James on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 11AM with a Time of Gathering from 9:30AM-10:45AM, all at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16400 Duluth Ave SE, Prior Lake. James will be laid to rest at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery.

Guests may join the Mass via live streaming at Stmichael-pl.org and clicking on the live stream tabs and then to James' mass icon. 

Jim Sommers, the third of six children and eldest son of Florence and Arthur Sommers, was born and raised in St. Paul. Jim attended Catholic schools and was a proud graduate of Cretin High School. He later attended the University of Minnesota.

Jim loved sports and, as a child, played hockey and baseball and went on to play hockey at Cretin and the University of Minnesota. As a young man, he coached baseball, football, and hockey for the teams of the park system in St. Paul. Later, he also played baseball and hockey for the Rand Bar in the local bar league.

Jim began a career as a salesman in the 60’s along with joining the Army Reserve in 1962. He remained active until 1968 attaining the rank of sergeant and becoming a paratrooper. Separately, Jim attained his pilot’s license and often reflected on his experiences flying a J3 Cub.

Jim married Sharon (Shy) Hullett, of Prior Lake, in 1973. They met at the Rand Bar in St. Paul and settled in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Jim and Shy’s first child, Sunny, was born in 1975 and second child, Joey in 1977. Joey was born with an extra part of his #9 chromosome, he suffered from hydrocephalus, and he suffered from kyphosis. They raised Joey in their home their entire lives until Jim, only recently, relented to offers of help from Sunny and her husband, Brett. Sunny was Jim and Shy’s absolute pride and joy, and she never ceased making them proud. Champion golfer, A+ student, physician assistant, selfless love and support for her brother Joe, and she gave them 4 grandchildren that completed their lives.

Amidst raising children, Jim worked as an auto parts salesman often making it home early to help take care of Joe. He was a member of the Catholic community at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Prior Lake. Jim was an usher and a regular attendee of Mass there. Jim’s Catholic upbringing and his military training showed through in the way that he lived his life, the way he raised his Sunny and Joe, and the dedication and love he had for all of them.

Jim’s later years were spent enjoying the grandchildren and being a wonderful support to Sunny and Brett. They all spent time at their cabin in Longville, Minnesota and taking RV trips all over the United States. Grandchildren afforded Jim another chance at coaching and Jim also took every opportunity to attend JJ’s concerts, Bella’s volleyball matches and dance recitals, Ben’s football games and trap shooting events, and Andy’s football and baseball games.

Jim was diagnosed with Melanoma in January 2022 and lost Shy three months later in April 2022. Jim made the best of his last 2.5 years. Sunny made certain no moss grew under his feet. Amidst trips to Mayo and Methodist hospital for immunotherapy treatments, Jim and Joe attended nightly dinners at Sunny and Brett’s. They packed in cruises, more RV trips, more trips to the cabin, a houseboat trip as recent as August, and other countless adventures.

Jim passed away peacefully at Sunny and Brett’s home on October 14 while taking a nap.

Jim is loved and will be missed by his children, Sunny (Brett) Klein and Joey Sommers; grandchildren, JJ, Bella, Ben, and Andy Klein; siblings, Janice (Rich) Green, Art (Kathy) Sommers, Gladys (Bob) Woldt, Florney (Don) Winger; and other loving relatives and friends.

Jim is welcomed into Heaven by his wife, Shy Sommers; parents; and sister, Joyce Fournier.