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As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home:
UPDATE: A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at the Bluffs Senior Living Facility in Houghton with Pastor Bucky Beach to officiate. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock.
Gertrude Delores (Heikkinen) Somero, 97, was peacefully called to her heavenly home on June 18, 2023, with her children at her side. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert (2010); granddaughter Kerrie Wolfe (2017); daughter-in-law Lynn Somero (2017); brothers William, Oscar, Raymond, and Edward; and sisters Helmi Olli, Hannah Keranen, Taimi Snabb, and infant twins Yalmer and Matilda.
Gert is survived by her children Roger (Beth) Somero, Kathy (Dave) Doll, Karen (Greg) Wolfe, Lynn (Ned) Devine, and Mark (Julie) Somero. She is the proud grandmother of Roger Jr. (Liza) Somero, KT Somero, Paul (Amy) Somero, Lucas (Tiffany) Doll, Annelise (Brian) Doll, Shawn Doll, Jason (Jodie) Wolfe, Jamie (Peter) Thoel, and Adam Devine. She was overjoyed to be the great grandmother of Amber (Steve) Krause, Lindsey (Ramid) Medina, Alex, Jameson, Vivian, and Calvin and great great grandmother of Lunabelle.
Gertrude, the youngest of 10 children, was born in 1926 to Finnish immigrants John and Lydia Heikkinen. Her first language was Finnish, and she learned English in school. Gert married Robert W. Somero in the spring of 1947. Married happily 63 years, they raised 5 children in the home they built. Gert enjoyed many activities during her long and productive life including working side by side with her husband Bob building their lakeshore home, making fire wood and deer hunting at their camp “The Big Rack Lodge” near Mohawk. She especially enjoyed hosting holiday dinners; her other hobbies included knitting, quilting, gardening, and playing scrabble.
She made the best pasties, and truly enjoyed feeding family and friends.
During World War 2 she worked for Packard in the Detroit area, returning to the UP she loved after the war. She was employed at Suomi College in food service for numerous years and retired from there in 1986.
In lieu of flowers and in gratitude, the family asks for donations to Omega House and Little Brothers for their kindness and assistance during this difficult time. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later date from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.
