Friendship Brewery

 Celebration of the Life of June Marie Kummer

1-20-2024

Dave and Melanie Brewer were gracious hosts on Saturday afternoon at Friendship Brewery. The staff and employees were most pleasant and I began to appreciate the spirit of craft brewing with a personal tour of the facility. I am fond of the notion of a celebration of a life, especially when its of the life of one of whom I have a genuine admiration. June Marie Kummer (née Baumer) passed away peacefully at her home on January 8, 2024. Beloved wife of the late Fred S. Kummer, Jr. for 68 years; loving mother to Caroline Croswell (Tom), Fritz Kummer (Tess) and Melanie Brewer (David).

I knew that I might find myself among grandchildren, friends and distant relatives I didn’t know well but I have been close to the business story of Fred Kummer and as such become somewhat familiar with the family behind the scenes. Clearly, June was an ideal supporter and partner to Fred Kummer. (Fred passed away in April of 2021). Bob Brandt introduced himself as a go-to guy for the three Friendship Brewing facilities and our tour included a visit with the quintessential Maestro sculpture figure that once occupied the space outside Fred Kummer’s Creve Coeur office on Olive Boulevard.

June (b. 1930) graduated from Washington University in 1951 with a degree in architecture.  She worked for the William B. Ittner architectural firm prior to her marriage to Fred Kummer in 1953.  He was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The couple had their first child, Caroline. June and Fred then moved to Rolla in 1954 where he earned his degree in civil engineering at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (now Missouri University of Science and Technology). Fred and June left a significant legacy of more than $300 Million Dollars to Missouri S&T.

This was a frigid January day with temperatures in the single digits, but it isn’t hard to imagine coming back when the snow melts and the Brewers follow through on landscaping plans in the outdoor beer garden. That would surely make June smile.