Oliver H. “Chef Ollie” Sommer C.E.C.A.A.C.H.O.F.

Sommer C.E.C. A.A.C.H.O.F, Oliver H. "Chef Ollie", of St. Charles, Missouri, died on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at the age of 88. Loving husband of the late Naomi H. Sommer; beloved son of the late Edward and Mary Sommer; devoted father of Donnie R. (Patricia) Harris; cherished grandfather of Kelly (John) Harris-Nation, Amanda Harris, and Bradley Harris; treasured great-grandfather of Vaydah and Nicholas Nation; dear brother of Henrietta Beck; dear uncle of Virginia Cox, Earl "Ollie" Van Beers, Marietta Beck, Charlene Beck, George Beck III, Daniel Fuller and Diana Winter. Thank you to his friend Mike Zeissert for his loving care. He is preceded in death by his sisters Teresa Sommer, Loretta Van Beers, Helen Fuller, and nephew Micheal Van Beers. He was employed at South West Illinois College as a Chief Executive Chef. As everyone who knows him, Ollie is the consummate gentlemen, much beloved and much decorated for a culinary career that began in 1941 at the age of sixteen. Now eighty-eight years young, he continued to pass on his culinary experience and knowledge to students at Southwest Illinois College. He was elected into The American Academy of Chefs Hall of Fame along with Julia Childs in 1996 and is a member of the Academy since 1964. He is also a member of the Honorary Order of Golden Toque, one of only one hundred members. He also served in the Navy active duty during both World War II and Korean War.