William S. 'Bill' Sommers

Hancock, Mich. – William S. “Bill” Sommers, 97, a lifelong resident of Ramsay, passed away Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility in Hancock, where he had been a resident for the past year.

Bill was born on May 8, 1918, in Ramsay, a son of Steve and Frances (Poszgay) Sommers.  He attended A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer and graduated in 1936.

Bill worked in the Ramsay Mine until he was drafted during World War II. Bill proudly served his country in the 8th Army Air Forces in England, Ireland, France and Germany. He was honorably discharged as a corporal on Nov. 13, 1945. Bill received the Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze Battle Stars, 6 Overseas Service Bars, 1 Service Stripe and Good Conduct Medal.

After returning to Ramsay, he worked in local mines until their closures. Bill then went to work as a lathe person for Universal Machine Company in Anvil and Bessemer. After that closed, he kept busy doing small jobs. Bill concluded his working career at Wilbert Vault Corporation in Ramsay. He retired in 1982.

On June 29, 1949, Bill was united in marriage to Audrey Mae Hissey at Christ the King Catholic Church in Ramsay by the Rev. Thomas M. Andary.

They celebrated more than 51 years of marriage before her passing on Nov. 28, 2000.

Bill was a lector at Christ the King Church for many years. After the church closed, he continued to read for the Rev. B. Neil Smith, who celebrated daily Mass at the rectory and while he was a resident at Gogebic Medical Care Facility. Bill was a supporting member of the Holy Name Society and sang in a polka choir at Catholic churches on the Gogebic Range and in northern Wisconsin. He was a devoted member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wakefield.

Bill enjoyed bowling and took pleasure in working crossword puzzles. In his free time, he loved to walk and visit with his many friends and never turned down a rousing game of cribbage.

Bill is survived by a daughter, Candace (James) Mannikko, of Painesdale; two grandsons, Jeremy, of Warren, and Stephen, of Painesdale; a great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Mae; a sister, Violet “Toots” Hartman, of Wisconsin; three nieces, Diane (Ken) Moe and Priscilla (James) Zitzer, both of Brookfield, Wis., and Connie (Ron) Krumrai, of Winneconne, Wis .; a nephew, David (Cindi) Lesky, of New Berlin, Wis .; other loving relatives, faithful neighbors and a host of friends, including the staff and residents on the third floor at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility.

Besides his loving wife, Bill was preceded in death by his parents; a brother and sister-in-law, Anthony “Tony” and Ruth; a sister and brother-in-law, Genevieve and Ed Lesky; and two nieces, Barbara Fuchsberger and Yvonne Krone.

The family will greet relatives and friends on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wakefield, with the honor guard beginning at 9:45 a.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will follow the visitation at 10:30 a.m., with the Rev. Antony Lukka, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and burial will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery, Bessemer, with a military graveside service under the auspices of Wakefield American Legion Geroux Post 11 and Wakefield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9084 Honor Guard.

Lunch will be served at the church hall following the cemetery service.

The family wishes to thank everyone at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility for their kindness and loving care that was given to Bill during his stay there.

Arrangements are under the direction of Jerald Rocco, owner-manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Online condolences may be made to lakesidememorialchapel.com.