John Allen Sommerfeld Jr.

March 14th, 1942 - June 3rd, 2025

John Allen Sommerfeld Jr. was born on March 14th, 1942 in Rockwell City, Iowa to parents John Allen Sommerfeld Sr. and Elona Berniece (Hess) Sommerfeld, both of whom preceded him in death. John was raised in a Navy family, and they would move several times before settling in Oak Harbor, Washington when he was 15 years old. At Oak Harbor High School, John played varsity basketball, baseball, and football graduating with the class of 1960.

John married Sandra Sue Tupper (who preceded him in death in 2012) on April 6th, 1963 in Shelton, Washington. John and Sandra met on a sunny day in Southern California, where Sandra, infamously, left a note on John’s windshield that read “Dear Washington,” in reference to John’s Washington State license plate. John and Sandra had two daughters, Shari Sommerfeld and Kelli (Wayne Wilson), granddaughters Sydney (Austin Banister) and Hailey (Thomas Hauser). John was known as a loving family man who loved, supported and adored his wife, daughters and grandchildren. He rarely missed a school or sporting event for his daughters or granddaughters.

John was the eldest of 4 sons; brothers Kenneth Sommerfeld (Janice), Randy Sommerfeld, who preceded him in death in 1998 (Christine), and Barry Sommerfeld (Donna). He was preceded in death by brother-in-law John Tupper (Jan), brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dick and Joanne Tupper, and nephew Jerry Tupper. John also leaves behind brother-in-law Alan Tupper (Patti), and numerous nieces and nephews.

John started his career with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) on April 12th, 1965 as a Trooper Recruit. He graduated with the 34th Trooper Basic Training Class on June 25th and was assigned to Seattle. John was on the team of Washington State Troopers that was the first to patrol the I-5 corridor when it opened in Snohomish County. In December of 1973, John transferred to Everett. John was also tasked with guarding the perimeter of the debris field caused by the Mount St. Helens eruption of May 18th, 1980. On March 11, 2002, John retired after proudly serving over 37 years with the WSP.

John was a devoted husband to his wife Sandra, especially when ensuring her care following a health crisis in 2004. Following her passing in 2012 John took up volunteering as a docent at Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum in Everett, Washington for the better part of a decade. John had a strong passion for history and the assurance that future generations would never lack access to historical education.

Before becoming a Washington State Trooper, John took a job working on the Minuteman I Missile. He was the youngest of the department heads when their plant was visited by Wernher von Braun, the German-born rocket scientist who developed the V-2 rocket. John would share that the plant had been pulling double-shifts to complete parts on a time-crunch, so when Wernher von Braun visited, he personally shook the hands of all department heads to thank them for their diligence and presented them with a Minuteman I Missile pin. John wore that proudly on his docent vest.

John enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching all kinds of sporting events. Specifically, he was a well-known Mariners, Seahawks, Kraken, and UW Husky fan. But his favorite thing to do was spending quality time with his loved ones, both family and dear friends. John was also known to attend monthly Washington State Patrol retiree luncheons and events. He enjoyed John Wayne movies and any historically-accurate documentary or film.

John noted that one of his favorite trips he took in his life was to Washington DC in the summer of 2017 with his daughters, son-in-law, granddaughters, and (at the time) soon-to-be grandson-in-law. John and family got to tour the White House, the Capitol, Mt. Vernon and George Washington’s Estate, the Pentagon, Ford’s Theater, Gettysburg, VA, and several museums and memorials. It was the trip of a lifetime for John. John also got to fulfill a lifelong dream of flying in the nose of a B-17 Bomber in the summer of 2019.

John was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in January 2024, but with chemo treatment went into remission and would live another 17 months in relatively good health. In those 17 months, John was able to spend quality time with his loved ones. In May 2025, John was diagnosed with brain cancer, and passed shortly after learning of that diagnosis.

John passed away peacefully at home, the morning of June 3rd. He was surrounded by his daughters Shari and Kelli, son-in-law Wayne, granddaughters Sydney and Hailey, and grandson-in-laws Austin and Thomas, and fur-great-grandson Sully. The sun was shining that morning, with a number of birds singing in his backyard. John was known as the “Disney Princess” for the abundance of bird feeders he kept regularly stocked in his backyard and the company that came along with them. John was even visited by a raccoon and opossum the evening before and morning of his passing. Despite the effects of the cancers he was battling and the toll it took on his mind and body, he maintained his friendly and kind disposition to the end. His family has peace in knowing he is back with his loved ones, specifically his parents, brother Randy and wife Sandra, while in the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A celebration of life is scheduled for July 19, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Hotel Indigo in the Bayside Ballroom, 1028 13th Street Everett, Washington 98201.

Following the celebration of life will be the urn placement

at Evergreen Cemetery, 4504 Broadway, Everett, WA 98203.