Ronald Alan Sommer

Ronald A. Sommer, born July 15, 1947, was a devoted husband and father who passed away Thursday morning, February 27, 2025, in his home in Spring Hill, Florida after a long hospitalization, struggles with diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Born in East Orange, New Jersey, then residing in Springfield, NJ, he was the son of the late Frederick Sommer and Helen Sommer (Krauth). Ronald was predeceased by his wife Diane (Pochopin) and brother Frederick Sommer.
At the age of seventeen, Ronald and his parents moved to Debary, Florida. Ronald and his dad Fred hoped the warm weather and beautiful palm trees would aid his mom with her battle of breast cancer. Ronald's first employment in Florida was making surgical needles at 85 cents per hour. At age eighteen, Ron's dad said, "let's return to New Jersey so that you can find a career for yourself." They returned to North Plainfield, New Jersey and soon after "Ron or Ronnie", as he liked to be called, attended Union County Vocational School where he earned a degree in the Trade of Tool and Die Making. Ron became a skilled artisan who learned this trade during an extensive apprenticeship. Ron was immensely proud to be a Tool and Die Maker because he loved to work with hands, and he was excellent at math.
During his employment at King Manufacturing, a jewelry business in Union, NJ, Ron learned how to create jewelry molds. This is where he first met the love of his life, Diane Doucette (Pochopin). In August of 1977, Ron and Diane were married and relocated to Colonia, New Jersey. Together, Ron and Diane and their six children created a beautiful life together. Ron was either brave enough or crazy enough to marry a gal with six kids!
Their family grew larger and larger with twelve grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Ron and Diane's love was extraordinarily strong and there was nothing they enjoyed more than being surrounded by their family and friends. The grandchildren were always extremely special to Ron and although he would joke around and tease them often, everyone always knew how much they were loved.
Ron continued his career in Tool and Die at 3W Manufacturing where he worked alongside Diane for many years until retiring and returning to Spring Hill, Florida in August 1994. Ron was an avid bowler and later joined a co-ed league with Diane at the local Hi-Way Bowl on Route 22 in Jersey. They also continued their joy for the sport in a league in Florida. If Ron was fixing something in the house or planting vegetables in the garden or relocating a shrub, his wife Diane was always right by his side! He enjoyed swimming, playing poker and shooting horseshoes. Ron truly could fix just about anything! Ron had an arsenal of tools in his workroom Colonia, NJ as well as his garage in Spring Hill, NJ. He had a tool for everything! He would always say "why make the job harder if you can use a tool?"
We would often catch Dad watching WWF Wrestling as well as his favorite team's the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Buccaneers. Everyone who knew Ron well certainly knew his absolute biggest passion of all was collecting beer steins and mugs. He acquired his first steins from his uncle and then he was hooked! Ron collected steins up until the very last days of his life. This assembly of steins grew upwards into a vast beautiful collection. Ron would always christen the special mugs with one bottle of beer, raising it up and saying "cheers" before washing and placing them on a shelf with the rest of his collection. He admired the steins for their craftsmanship, beauty, and historical significance.
Ron was proud of his German heritage and was able to visit his dear friend Alex in Germany with his beloved wife Diane. It was a wonderful trip to Germany even though Dad would often say "but the beer was warm." Ron loved to travel with his wife and together they visited many additional beautiful and fun places including Hawaii, Bermuda, Niagara Falls, Wildwood, NJ, Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, the famous Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee and Tupelo, Mississippi the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Ron loved to visit the casinos in Florida and New Jersey but he would always say "just bring what you are willing to lose." He treasured his pets Baron, Teddy Bear, and Smokey and was thrilled every time he drove his sportscar.
Ronald was preceded in death by his sons Richard Doucette & Joseph Doucette, and his uncle, Walter Sommer as well as his sister-in-laws Deborah Moyes, Joyce Carlson, Lucy Pochopin, Camille Sommer, and brother-in-law Raymond Pochopin.
Ronald is survived by his children, Dennis Doucette Sr., his wife Crystal; Theresa Young (Doucette); her husband James; Lawrence Doucette and Christine Mellas (Doucette) and grandchildren Billy Semon Jr, Jimmy Young Jr, Alena Mellas, Anthony Mellas, Zachary Mellas, Christopher Doucette, Brian Doucette, Michael Doucette, Celeste Hogeland, Jaclynn Kanaar, Dennis Doucette Jr, Jessica Elders, several beloved great-grandchildren and a special niece, Denise Griffin (Moyes) and nephews Dennis Pochopin and Fred Sommer.
It is impossible to capture all that he was or how much he was loved. The thing he valued most of all was time spent well with family and friends. Dad lived a full life where he loved to laugh and had an unforgettable sense of humor. His family and friends could fill a book with stories and happy memories of him. Dad was always humble and kind. Even not on his best days, he would always ask "how are you feeling?" Dad was an incredibly special man, and he will be missed very much.
Please join us in remembering Ronald Sommer, our father, and celebrating his life. We love you Dad and always will.
In lieu of flowers and donations, please share your best memories of Ron by commenting directly on this legacy website or FACEBOOK (Ronald Sommer) - Just look for his photo and the picture of his White Challenger with Red Stripes! Don't drive too fast up in heaven Dad! Be sure to give Mom a kiss and hug from all of us.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Ron, please visit the Tree Store through this website.