JOSEPH J. AND AUGUSTA [BLOCK] SOMER
Joseph J. Somer, born November 14, 1892, in Venus, Nebraska, was a
son of Joseph J. Somer, Jr., and Anna F. (Jirak) Somer. On May 4,
1914, Joseph J. married Augusta Block, who was born August 16, 1890,
in Walnut, Nebraska, a daughter of Herman and Augusta (Belka) Block
of Verdigre, Nebraska. The Somer family came to Sparta, Nebraska,
from Czechoslovakia.
The Block family came from Frienvalda, Pommern, Germany, and settled
in Walnut, Nebraska, in 1883. Joe and Gusta lived in Walnut,
Nebraska, until 1920 when they moved to Verdigre because of Joe’s
asthmatic problems. In 1944 they moved to Fremont, Nebraska, to be
near some of their children and grandchildren.
J
oe died on January 24, 1950, and Gusta died on August 25, 1963. They
are both buried in the Fremont Military Cemetery.
Joe and Gusta had five children: Iola, Bernard, Benjamin, Irene, and
Dorothy.
Iola Thelma Somer Belak of Fremont, Nebraska, was born in Walnut,
Nebraska, on February 27, 1917. She married Stephen F. Belak of
Gregory, South Dakota, on April 2, 1939, in Blair, Nebraska. Iola
and Steve are retired and live in Fremont. They have five daughters:
JoAnn , Sharon, Frances, Stephanie, and Debra. JoAnn married Bill
Kelly and they have three children: Russell Gnuse of Arlington,
Nebraska, Rayna, and Valerie of El Cajon, California, and one
grandson, Bradley (son of Russell) of Loveland, Colorado. JoAnn
resides in El Cajon. Sharon married Eugene French and they live in
Elkhorn, Nebraska. They have three sons: Jeffrey, Michael, and
Gregory, and one grandson, Cole (son of Jeffrey), all of Elkhorn.
Frances married Daniel Miles and they live in Fort Morgan, Colorado.
She has two daughters, Ilene of Fremont and Angela of Fort Morgan,
Colorado. Stephanie married Jack Ekker and she has three children:
Chris, Daniel, and Darcy Jo, all of Fremont, Nebraska. Debra married
James Roets and their two sons are Jimmy and Stephen, all of
Fremont.
Bernard Edwin Somer of San Jose, California, was born in Walnut on
November 17, 1919. He married Eva Ellen Stark of Fort Worth, Texas,
on June 10, 1943. The ceremony was performed by Judge Martin DeVries,
Bernard’s uncle, in his home in Long Beach, California. Bernard and
Eva are retired and live in San Jose. They have three children:
Sandra, Roger, and JoEllen. Sandra Somer Petrovich of Ramona,
California, was born in Fremont, Nebraska, on July 31, 1944. She
married John Raymond Petrovich of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, on
September 25, 1962, in Lincoln, Nebraska. They have three sons: John
Raymond, born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on October 24, 1964; Darrin
Edwin, born in Oxnard, California, on July 4, 1968; and Kenneth
Alan, born on June 9, 1973, in San Jose, California. Roger Alan
Somer of San Jose was born in Fremont, Nebraska on September 24,
1947. He married Margaret (Peggy) Hollis of San Jose on June 28,
1969, in San Jose. They were divorced in 1980, but Roger has joint
custody of their two sons, Geoffrey Alan, born May 14, 1975, and
Bryan Edwin, born August 31, 1978, both born at San Jose. JoEllen
Somer Mayer of Union City, California, was born in Fort Worth,
Texas, on July 22, 1955. She married Mark Raymond Mayer of
Riverside, California, on January 3, 1981, in San Diego, California.
Benjamin Martin Somer of Grand Island was born in Verdigre on
February 11, 1922. He married Phyllis Bradwell of York, Nebraska, on
December 26, 1948. Ben is a dentist and Phyllis is a registered
nurse in Grand Island. They have four children: Douglas, Cynthia,
Lisa, and Randall. Douglas D. Somer of Grand Island was born there
on January 21, 1951. He married Sharon McGerty of Grand Island on
July 14, 1973. Cynthia Somer married Norman Luebbert of Grand
Island. She was born there on July 27, 1953. She has one daughter,
Nicole Marie, born February 8, 1983. Lisa Somer married Rodney
Warren Crumrine on October 7, 1978. Lisa was born November 1, 1956.
They have three sons: John Joseph, born August 6, 1982; Jason
Andrew, December 27, 1984; and Jeffrey Warren, born November 21,
1986. All were born in Grand Island. Randall J. Somer was born on
April 7, 1959. He married Lisa Krenk of Grand Island on January 21,
1980. They have one son, Brian Scott, born in Warner Robins,
Georgia, on December 6, 1982.
Irene Ellenora Somer Schulz of Santee, California, was born in
Verdigre on August 22, 1924. She married Richard P. Schulz of
Fremont and the U. S. Navy on October 30, 1945. Richard died
February 9, 1979. Irene lives in Santee, California, and is employed
at CONVAIR-San Diego. They have three daughters: Carole, Cheryl, and
Carla. Carole Jeanne Schulz of Marysville, Washington, was born
October 12, 1946, in Fremont, Nebraska. She married Dale Crampton of
the U. S. Navy on September 8, 1964. She has one son, Ricky Ekker,
from a former marriage. Cheryl Lynn Schulz Bianchi of San Diego was
born in Fremont, Nebraska, on October 13, 1948. She married Michael
Bianche on August 7, 1976. She has one son, Michael Mortera, born in
San Diego on October 20, 1967. (by a former marriage). Carla Jo
Schulz Peak of San Diego was born in Fremont on September 30, 1953.
She married Darrell Fisher of San Diego on December 4, 1971. They
had two daughters, Yara (July 8, 1973) and Sara (August 22, 1976)
both in San Diego. Carla and Darrell divorced in 1984 and she is now
married to Michael Peak of San Diego.
Dorothy Jean Somer Wilbur was born in Verdigre on March 22, 1928.
She married DeLain Wilbur of Boone, Nebraska, on October 30, 1947,
in Fremont where they still reside. Their children are Nancy Jo,
Diana Lynn, Pamela Kay, Jacqueline, and Brett. Nancy Jo Wilbur Waage
of Fremont married James Wage in 1967. They have two children,
Kimberly Ann, born January 8, 1969, and James DeLain, born February
18, 1970. Kimberly has a son, David Dryden. Diana Lynn Wilbur
Rockford was born in Fremont on October 17, 1958. She married
Richard Rockford and has a daughter Shannon. Pamela Kay Wilbur
McDonald was born in Fremont on July 10, 1960. She married Roy
McDonald and has two children, Trisha Jean, born August 30, 1977,
and Matthew, born May 15, 1986. Jacqueline Raye Wilbur Buresh was
born in Fremont on February 7, 1962. She married Bruce Buresh and
has two children, Krista Lynn, born June 22, 1978, and Adam Alan,
born September 15, 1983. Brett LeRay Wilbur was born in Fremont on
July 4, 1963.
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