Joseph J. Sommer, age 94, Born July 9, 1927 in Canton, died March 7, 2022 in Aultman Hospital in Canton. Graduated from Canton Lincoln High School in 1945. Served in US Navy from 1945 to 1946 and US Naval Reserve until 1950. Graduated from Kent State University in 1950 and Western Reserve law school in 1952. From 1952 to 1968 he worked in Canton managing the Kauffmann Insurance Agency, practicing law, and deciding workers' compensation appeals on a state board. He proposed creation of the Stark County Park District and was appointed to its initial board in 1967. He was elected a Stark County Commissioner in 1968. Gov. John Gilligan named him to head the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation in 1971, beginning a long and illustrious career in state government in Columbus. Other positions there included director of the Department of Administrative Services, executive secretary of the House of Representatives, chief of administration in the Auditor of State's Office, and chief of staff for Gov. Richard Celeste. A 1985 Columbus Monthly magazine feature article about him was titled "The Perfect Public Servant." Also in 1985 he was appointed to his dream job of director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, from which he retired in 1991. Subsequently returning to Stark County, he was on the board of directors for United National Bank and the Muskingham Watershed Conservancy District. And Governors Voinovich, Taft, and Strickland appointed him to natural resources boards, making a total of seven governors who chose him for state positions.

Throughout his life in Stark County and Columbus he generously supported and served in volunteer positions for dozens of nonprofit organizations, many of which focused on the environment and natural resources. He was inducted into Ohio's Natural Resources Hall of Fame, the Ohio Parks & Recreation Association Hall of Fame, and the Elite Corps of the Ohio Commodores. Among his many awards were the Stark County Board of Park Commissioners' Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ohio Environmental Council's Environmental Achievement Award, and the Louis Bromfield Society Award. In 2018 the Stark County Park District opened the Joseph J. and Helen M. Sommer Wildlife Conservation Center at Sippo Lake Park in Massillon. The Canton Lincoln High School Alumni Association gave him its Distinguished Alumnus Award. The Canton Repository included him in its "Stark's Famous" series in 2016.  His life of service and generosity made him deeply loved and he will be greatly missed by many.

Preceded in death by parents Joseph C. and Hazel (Neider) Sommer, sister Jeanne Eskola, wife of 55 years Helen (Soldatis), and daughter Kathy Rose Sommer. Survived by sons Joseph C. Sommer II of Columbus and John M. Sommer of Carrollton, daughter Carol McShane of Glendale, California, grandchildren Joshua D. Sommer of Canton, Emily (Sommer) Gonyer of Carrollton, JP McShane of Fort Lee, New Jersey, and Shannon McShane Robbins of Los Angeles, California, along with four great-grandchildren and many other relatives.

Calling hours are from 5:00-7:00pm on Thursday, March 10th in the Arnold & Spiker-Foster-Shriver Funeral Home, 4817 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton. A private service and interment will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canton Ex-Newsboys Association, PO Box 20124, Canton, Ohio 44701-0124; Friends of Stark Parks, 5300 Tyner Street NW, Canton, OH 44708; or The Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Wilmot, OH 44689. Please sign the tribute page.