K. Eileen Sommers

Kathryn Eileen Sommers, 83, of Grass Creek passed away May 19, 2023 in Brownsburg, Indiana, following a recent illness.    She was born Dec. 21, 1939 to, Harry and Ruby Rice Quinn.  Raised on the family farm in Liberty Township, Carroll County, she graduated from Delphi High School in 1958 and attended Indiana Business College.  On June 23, 1963, she married David Lee Busch in Calvary Presbyterian Church in Logansport.  They celebrated 34 years of marriage until his death on Dec. 6, 1997.  On January 15, 1999, she married Carl D. Sommers, who preceded her in death on August 19, 2019.

Eileen worked for GTE, various local tax preparers, Smith Office Supply, and the Cass County Assessor’s office.  She was widely known in the region for her position as an outside sales representative for Barton’s, visiting businesses in Logansport, Winamac, Rochester, Flora, and Monticello for over 30 years.

She was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church for 41 years, where she served as an Elder, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and Communicants Class leader.  Following her move from Logansport to Grass Creek in 1999, she attended the Grass Creek United Methodist Church and was active with many church activities, including making loaves of bread for military service members overseas and preparing funeral dinners for members of the church and the Grass Creek community.  Eileen and Carl were beloved for hosting church members after their annual Christmas caroling, serving a bountiful assortment of Christmas cookies and hot chocolate topped with her delicious homemade marshmallows.

Eileen was active in numerous volunteer and civic efforts throughout north central Indiana, including the Cass County Historical Society, the Logansport School Board Nominating Committee, the Logansport Lioness Club, the Grissom Air Force Base Community Council, the Indiana Canal Society, the Elks Lodge, and the Grass Creek Lions Club, where she focused on grant writing to improve the community park and preserve the historic Grass Creek Depot.  She was a founding board member of the Friends of the Fulton County Parks and Recreation Department, Inc., and a 52-year member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, most recently as a member of the Preceptor Delta Beta chapter.

Eileen was an avid reader and loved assembling jigsaw puzzles.  She collected Heisey glassware, accumulating hundreds of pieces during a 40-year span of attending auctions and yard sales.  She enjoyed tending to her garden that yielded vegetables for her family and neighbors.  Her favorite activity was traveling with family and friends to China, Germany, Hawaii, Cancun, Alaska, and scores of places all over the United States.

She is survived by her two sons, Michael David Busch of rural Rochester, and  Steven (Tammy) Busch of Brownsburg, Indiana;  stepson, Randy (Lisa) Sommers of Grass Creek; grandchildren, Joshua (Shaun-Marie) Busch of Fort Hamilton, New York, and Elisabeth Busch of Brownsburg, currently with the United States Army; step grandchildren, Kaitlin (David) Peraino of Findlay, Ohio and Kyle (Amanda) Sommers of Grass Creek; great grandsons; Dean Phillips and Charles Busch step great-grandchildren Addison Peraino, Alex Peraino, and Callum Sommers; brother David R. (Lori Klein) Quinn of Tomball, Texas; beloved nieces and nephews in Texas, Georgia, and Ohio;  and a stepson and stepdaughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husbands, an infant daughter, brother Harold E. Quinn of San Antonio, Texas, sister Rebecca J. Quinn of Tomball, Texas, and step great-granddaughter Alaina Peraino.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Rans Funeral Homes, Metzger Chapel, 123 E. Main St., Kewanna

Services will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at the funeral home.

A private family graveside service will be held at Woodville Cemetery in Carroll County.

Memorial Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Grass Creek Lions Club, the Fulton County Community Foundation, or a charitable organization of one’s choice.