On February 14, 2018, Lucille Mary Elizabeth Schommer, age 84, passed away at her home in Port Richey, Florida. She was a former longtime resident of Prior Lake, Minnesota.
Lucille’s life will be honored with a visitation on Tuesday, February 20 from 3-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and on Wednesday, February 21 from 10:30-11:45 am, at St. Michael Catholic Church 16311 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 pm (noon). Father Tom Walker will preside. Pall bearers will be Joshua Schommer, Jeff Bester, Nicholas Schommer, Matthew Borchardt, Philip Schommer, Bailey Schommer, Brandon Schommer and Colton Schommer. She will be laid to rest at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Lucille’s member by the family.
It was May 21, 1933 in Shakopee, MN, when the proud parents of Henry and Elizabeth (Hennes) Gregory announced the birth of their daughter, Lucille Mary Elizabeth. She was the third of five children raised on the family farm, located on the top of the hill in Jordan, MN. Farm life was hard work, Lucille worked long hours in the fields first with horses and later with tractors. She attended St John the Baptist Catholic School and later Jordan High School. Lucille would often need to miss school to assist on the farm.
While attending a Jordan High School football game, Lucille’s brother introduced her to a young man name Donald Alfred Schommer. They courted for a short time and on June 19, 1951, at St John’s Catholic Church in Union Hill, MN, Lucille and Donald exchanged wedding vows. They were blessed with eight children. The family enjoyed celebrating Fourth of July’s with friends picnicking and watching fireworks. They also spent time at Carl’s lake and exploring Minnesota and Canada camping and fishing. As the children, grew, she spent countless hours hauling the kids around to their school activities and taking care of them.
In 1979, Lucille and Don built a winter home in Holiday, FL. At first, they spent just a short time there each winter. After retirement, Lucille and Don would spent several months enjoying the sun and warm weather. But life changed for the Schommer family with the sudden passing of Don, at the age of 65, on December 6, 1993. Lucille knew she needed to carry on. She became a very strong and independent woman and focused on her family.
Lucille was a meticulous and talented gardener. She relished working in her vegetable and flower gardens. This love for her gardens even transferred to Lucille’s Florida home, where she has called her permanent residence over the last decade. In Lucille’s spare time, she enjoyed making pottery, cheering on the NorthStar, Twins and even an occasional fight match. Lucille’s home was always open, and she was the happiest cooking meals for anyone that joined her at the table. There was never a shortage of food at Lucille’s home. Through the years, she extended her talents and dedication to be an active member in the Prior Lake Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, the Savage Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary and was very active in her parishes of St Michael in Port Richey and Prior Lake.
The true passions in Lucille’s life was family and faith. She treasured being a wife and mom but relished being a grandma. Each grandchild and later great-grandchildren, all held a special place in Lucille’s heart and she always had a smile on her face spoiling them. It was Lucille’s faith in God that shined the brightest in her life. A devoted servant, Lucille trusted the ways of God with all of life’s trials and tribulations. Her strong character of persistence, feistiness and mostly generosity, sculpted to who she became.
The legacy of Lucille will be carried on in her beloved family and forever missed by children, Leroy (Renee) Schommer, Donna (Bill) Bester, Larry (Jill) Schommer, Dianne Grundmeyer, Debbie (Duane) Borchardt, Lyle (Doris) Schommer, Lloyd (Julie) Schommer, Linden (Karen) Schommer; 25 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and 2 on the way; brother, Edward Gregory; sister, Clara Hartmann; relatives and friends.
There to greet Lucille home in heaven is her beloved husband, Donald; a great-grandson; son-in-law, Jim Grundmeyer; parents, Henry and Elizabeth Gregory; sisters, Genevieve (Jerome) Strunic, Florence Madsen; sister-in-law, Rose Gregory and brother-in-law, Floyd Hartmann.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Prior Lake Chapel, proudly served and cared for the Schommer family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
