Eloise Marie (Sommer-Basinger) Kepner, 87, died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Walnut Manor in Walnut, Ill. She was born April 8, 1924, in Bluffton, Ohio, to Walter and Cora Gratz Sommer and married Bryan Basinger in 1942.
She lived most of her life in the Bluffton area, working at Triplett Electrical Instrument Company and the Bluffton Senior Citizen Center.
She and Bryan lived in Simi Valley, Calif., for three years where he died in 1980. After his death she returned to Ohio and married Robert Cloyd of Elida. After his passing she later moved near her daughter Karen (Basinger) Meisenheimer in Walnut, Ill., and married Homer Kepner there, who died in 2006.
She is survived by her children, Karen Meisenheimer of Walnut, Ill., James (Peggy) Basinger of Kuna, Idaho, Barbara (David) Dunne of Camano Island, Wash., 11 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, two brothers, Clyde (Joan) Sommer of Archbold, Dean (Darlyn) Sommer of Bluffton, and a sister Marcile Duehr of Bloomington, Ill.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husbands, brothers Donavin Sommer, Evan Sommer, and Wayne Sommer, a daughter Carol (Michael) Connell of Stapleton, Neb., and son-in-law Jay Meisenheimer of Walnut, Ill.
Throughout her life she was involved in the Ebenezer Mennonite Church, as Sunday school superintendent, VBS worker, and choir member. Her volunteer ministries included Echo Ranch Bible Camp in Juneau, Alaska, and SIM headquarters in Charlotte, N.C.
A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 10, at Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Bluffton, with Rev. Dick Potter and Rev. Charles Warren officiating.
The family will greet visitors one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Ebenezer Mennonite Cemetery. Memorials contributions may be made to Walnut Manor Nursing Home or C-C Ranch Rodeo Bible Camp.
Arrangements are by Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
