Roger "Bud" Sumners

Roger “Bud” Sumners passed away October 17, 2007 in Clarion, Iowa where he resided his entire life. Funeral services for Roger Sumners will be held on Monday, October 22, 2007 at the Church of Christ, 420 North Main Street, Clarion with Pastor Tim Platt officiating. Burial will be held in Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2007 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street in Clarion.  Roger was born in Clarion on September 6, 1931 to Harold K. and Marjorie (Soults) Sumners. He attended Clarion schools where he graduated in 1949. He then attended Michigan State and lettered in track three years. He was in ROTC at Michigan State, and went into the army after graduation in 1953 as a second lieutenant. He served from 1954 until 1956. He then returned to his home town of Clarion to join his father, Harold, as the third generation at Sumners Insurance Agency which had been founded by his grandfather Harry in 1934. On August 2, 1958 Roger married Margaret Ann Fosse at the Lutheran Church in Radcliffe, Iowa. Margaret was an elementary school teacher in Clarion. To this union four daughters were born, Michelle, Lisa, Lori, and Amy. Roger was known as a community leader and an involved citizen. He served as President of the Clarion Jaycees, Clarion Chamber of Commerce, the Clarion Development Commission, and the Clarion Rotary Club. He was active in the Rotary Foreign Exchange Student Program as well as being named a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and American Legion. Roger served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank for 20 years, was instrumental in bringing KRIT-FM to the community, a charter member of the Lake Cornelia Improvement Association, and a member of the Church of Christ. A personal highlight was being elected president of the Iowa Mutual Insurance Association as well as being named Grand Marshal for the Festival in the Park Parade in 1992. Roger was diagnosed as having Parkinson's disease in his forties and as a result became active in the Parkinson's Association and eventually took over as the facilitator for a Parkinson's support group that met in Wright County. He sold Sumners Insurance Agency to Bud and Bonnie Young and continued to work until retirement. He loved watching sports, both on TV and as a spectator. He cherished the time he spent with his family. Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Margaret, four daughters, Michelle (Doug) Kinnison of Niwot, Colorado, Lisa (Robin) Gist of Des Moines, Lori (Dan) Block of Cedar Falls, and Amy (Jean Francois) Martini of Sunnyvale, California; grandchildren, Alex and Zach Kinnison, Jessica Gist, Danan, Brennan, and Keaton Block, Luc and Elise Martini and his nieces and nephews. Those who have preceded Roger in death are his parents, Harold and Marjorie, his sisters, Beverly Hecox and Marilyn Melhus, and one infant sister. He will be greatly missed and warmly remembered by his family, friends and the community. Memorial contributions may be made to Wright Medical Center, the Clarion Public Library, or the Clarion Church of Christ.