Chester "Ray" Sommerkamp

Chester “Ray” Sommerkamp of O’Fallon, MO passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the age of 74. Loving husband of 51 years to Peggy (Dyer) Sommerkamp. Dear father of Steven (Kara) Sommerkamp, Katie (Scott) Wildermuth, and Jeff (Nichole) Sommerkamp; cherished grandfather to 6 grandchildren, Carter, Avery, Kade, Connor, Carolyn Sommerkamp, Ryan Wildermuth and Baby Wildermuth coming in July. He was the beloved son of the late Chester L. and Josephine (Hoffmann) Sommerkamp, and brother to late sisters, Patricia (Gerald) Bowman and Sandra Sommerkamp.

Rather than waiting for the draft, after high school Ray enlisted into the U.S. Navy as a Plumber for the Seabees. Upon returning from the service, he continued working as a plumber with his dad and eventually took over the family plumbing business.

Going to the Lake of the Ozarks and spending time with family and friends at the lake house was Ray’s favorite thing to do. He loved everything associated with the water: swimming, skiing, boating, flipping people off the torpedo tube, and most of all fishing. Everyone was welcome at the lake and so many wonderful memories were made there with family and friends.

If there was a St. Louis Cardinal’s Baseball game on, Ray was in front of the TV. He could be heard loudly coaching them from his chair. However, there was nothing he loved more than being with his grandchildren. Whether it was taking them for rides on his cart, racing them down the driveway, or watching them play baseball, soccer, and field hockey; they gave him so much joy.

Ray was a longtime member of St. Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul, Missouri. He quietly set a shining example of what it meant to accept God’s will. He was admired by all who knew him. Ray was deeply loved and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to St. Paul Church, to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or in the form of masses.