Donald E. Olsommer Sr., 86, of Sterling, PA, passed away peacefully on December 11, at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Unit in Dunmore, PA, surrounded by his loving family.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Janet (Hinds) Olsommer.
Born in Scranton, he was the son of the late Felix C. Olsommer and Emily (Jones) Olsommer. He was a graduate of Greene-Dreher-Sterling High School, Class of 1958.

Prior to retirement, Don was the founder and owner of Olsommer-Clarke Insurance Group, established in 1972, with offices in Hamlin, Honesdale and Moscow, PA. He also owned and operated the Olsommer Tree Farm in Sterling. A man of deep faith, he served for 17 years as Pastor of Smith Hill United Methodist Church and was a lifelong member of Sterling United Methodist Church.

A United States Army Veteran, Don served with distinction for more than 30 years in the Pennsylvania National Guard, retiring with the rank of Major. He enlisted at age 18 in 1958 with the Honesdale National Guard and completed basic training at Fort Knox, KY and Fort Jackson, SC. He initially served with the 109th Infantry in Honesdale, later transferring to the New Jersey National Guard, where he served with the 53rd Tank Battalion and became a full-time supply sergeant.

After completing officer training at the New Jersey Military Academy in Sea Girt, NJ, and Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, OK, he advanced through the officer ranks. In 1971, he returned to Pennsylvania and served as company commander for National Guard units in Carbondale, Honesdale, Scranton and in the Tobyhanna Reserve Unit.

Don dedicated much of his life to public service. He served the citizens of Wayne County as County Commissioner from 1980-1991 and again from 2004-2007. He also served as a Township Supervisor and as the former Wayne County Republican Chairman, and was deeply involved in civic and charitable efforts throughout the community.

He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, golf and tending his tree farm. He was a gifted athlete in high school and remained a lifelong supporter of Delaware Valley and Penn State football. Don was passionate about youth sports, serving as a coach, and was a co-founder of Sterling Little League. He was inducted into the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame, was a member of American Legion Post 807 and was a 50-year member of the Salem Masonic Lodge #330.

Most of all, Don cherished time spent with his family.

Surviving in addition to his wife are his three sons: Donald E. Olsommer, Jr. and his wife Alene of Sterling; Pennsylvania State Representative, the Hon. Jeff Olsommer, and his wife Kelli of Sterling; and Keith Olsommer and his wife Mary Ann of Sterling; a sister, Helen Leahey, of Georgia; grandchildren Phoebe, Betsy, Garrett, Mackenzie, Logan and Liam; great-grandchildren Charli, Daisy and Genevieve; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Ronald F. Olsommer.
A funeral service will be held Friday, December 19 at 11 a.m. at Sterling United Methodist Church, 567 Sterling Road, Sterling. The service will be live-streamed on the James Wilson Funeral Home Facebook page.
Friends can call Thursday, December 18 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel; and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the church.

Private interment will be held at Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst, PA.
Memorial contributions in Don’s memory can be made to Sterling United Methodist Church, PO Box 25, Sterling, PA 18463 or the Smith Hill United Methodist Church, 305 Sunrise Ave., Honesdale, PA 18431

For directions, to share a memory or to leave a condolence for the family, visit www.jamesfamilyfunerals.com.