Carol Sombke

Service for Carol Sombke, 69, of Groton will be 3:00pm, Friday, August 1st at St. John's Lutheran Church, Columbia. Rev. Craig Grams will officiate. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Columbia under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.
www.paetznick-garness.com

Visitation will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton on Thursday from 4-8pm with a prayer service at 7:00pm. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to services Friday at the church.

Carol passed away July, 29, 2008 at her residence in Groton.

Carol Sombke was born April 5, 1939 to Albert and Ella (Krege) Weihrauch. She was baptized at St. John's Lutheran church April 23, 1939. She grew up and attended St. John's Lutheran parochial school in Columbia until her eighth grade year. Carol was then confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church April 26, 1953. She then attended and graduated from Columbia High School in 1957. Carol married Dallas Sombke September 12, 1957 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Columbia. Upon marriage they moved to a farm in the Ferney area where Carol devoted her time helping Dallas with the farm work and clerking his auction sales. She always found time to help others with their daily projects. She played the organ at St. Paul's Lutheran Church for 40 years. Along with playing the organ she taught bible school, Sunday school, confirmation and she played the piano and organ for the choir. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church ladies' aid. Carol also played the organ for several other churches, and played for various funerals and weddings. Dallas and Carol retired and moved into Groton in 1996, and they wintered in Arizona. It was in Groton that they joined St. John's Lutheran Church where Carol substituted for confirmation, helped with vacation bible school, substituted as an organist, and participated in LWML. Next Carol took on the project of serving two full terms on the Brown County Fair Board starting in 1994. The year after her last term, 2000, she started the fair flower project with 54 giant barrel planters. And if all that is not enough, in her spare time, she enjoyed many different arts and crafts. Carol could create anything from a stylish handbag to elegant sandals, even a decorative bowling ball for the front lawn. These are some of the few things she enjoyed making for her family and friends. Dallas and Carol liked attending National Outstanding Young Farmer conventions throughout the United States where they made a tremendous amount of friends from all over the country. Carol also enjoyed many international trips associated with National Outstanding Young Farmer association.

Blessed for having shared Carol's life were her husband, Dallas, her son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Mel Sombke who reside on a farm near Ferney, her son, Dean Sombke who resides in Grand Island, Nebraska, and her daughter and son-in-law, Sharlyn and Kevin Jondahl who reside in Groton, her grandchildren, Nikki Sombke who resides in Albany, Minnesota, Brett, Bryce and Bryan Sombke who reside in the Ferney area, Dream, Dakota and Destin Sombke who reside in St. Paul, Nebraska, Sashia Sombke who resides in Cresbard, South Dakota, and Peyton Sombke who resides in Groton, and numerous nephews and nieces and friends.

She was presided in death by her parents, Albert and Ella, and two infant children; Gene Alan and Galynne.

Honorary Casketbearers will be Carol's grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Casketbearers will be Larry Vietmeier, Mike Kampa, Larry Franzen, Bob Walter, Roni Dobberpuhl and Rick Pigors.

Carol's family would like to thank Avera Health and Hospice for their generous loving care.