Eugene Joseph Sommerfelt

Eugene J. “Gene” Sommerfelt, longtime resident of Plano, Texas, and formerly of Buffalo, New York, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2017. Gene was the son of Michael and Cecelia Kolacki Sommerfelt and was born March 19, 1921. He graduated from Kensington High School in 1939 and Canisius College in 1957. Gene served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II in California and on the Island of Espiritu Santo in the South Pacific. He married Magdalene “Madge” Dyker in 1948 and together they raised three children. Madge passed away in 1983.

Gene worked for National Gypsum Company for 29 years, a career he thoroughly enjoyed and which brought Gene and his family to Texas in 1976. He married Marie Cook in 1991 and last year they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Gene especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, attending their activities, and exercising with friends at the Cooper Fitness Center.

Gene was preceded in death by his first wife Madge, their twin sons Brian and Kevin, his sister Virginia Wright and his step-brother Leonard Kraska. He is survived by his wife, Marie; son Gary Sommerfelt and wife Kathryn, grandchildren Helen Sommerfelt, Michael Sommerfelt and wife Maria and their son Oliver; son Robert Sommerfelt and wife Suzanne, grandchildren Alyson and Dylan; and daughter Lori Moore and husband Glenn, and grandson Justin.

Visitation will be Thursday evening, February 2nd, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 8011 Frankford Rd., Plano, Texas, 75252, located on the south access road of George Bush, east of Coit Road.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday morning, February 3rd, at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 West Spring Creek Pkwy (at Independence), Plano, Texas 75023. There will be a reception at the church immediately following the service. Interment will follow at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas.