MARY ANN SOMMERS

Our family's Matriarch, Mary Ann (Nan) Sommers, age 95, passed away on December 29th, 2020, following a lengthy illness of Congestive Heart Failure.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Nan and her brother, Don, moved with their mother, Magdalene, to Appleton, Wisconsin during her early childhood.  They resided with Nan's much beloved grandmother, Mary Murphy.  Nan's formative years were filled with neighborhood friends, music lessons (violin), dance recitals (tap) and two doting uncles: Leo and Ray.  

Nan graduated from Appleton West High school and took a job as a secretary for Tuttle Press. She loved the independence of being a working woman.  Nan's best friend, Janelle, also working at Tuttle, attempted to play 'match-maker' but Nan's childhood neighbor, Fran, had already stolen her heart. 

Nan and Fran were wed in October 1948.  Nan continued to work for another year until her first pregnancy and they then moved to the Milwaukee area, eventually settling in South Milwaukee in 1954 when their family began to expand.  With three children total, two sons and a daughter, Nan added to her responsibilities by volunteering as a Boy Scout Den mother, and an assistant Girl Scout Brownie Leader.

The family returned to the Fox Valley in 1965. They took on a huge challenge of renovating an old house in Neenah.  Nan was very proud of her efforts to create a unique home and save a part of Neenah history.  She was also personally challenged, as only a mother can be, dealing with three adolescent children all wanting to become their own beings.  Lessons by Nan were sometimes taught by example, by love, or her children learned the hard way.

Nan survived adversity and sorrows her entire life. She grew up without a father because of a divorce.  At age 10 she was hit and dragged for blocks by a car; her clothing being caught on the undercarriage, resulting in a lifelong partial vision loss.  Her cherished Grandmother, acting more like a surrogate mother, passing right before Nan's betrothal. 

During her married years Nan bore a mother's heartsick worry as a son went off to war.  She struggled with an assertive daughter.  And Nan worried for her youngest son's health. In later years Nan survived breast cancer. Then the 2012 death of her husband, followed by the death of her youngest son, Tim, two months later.  She often missed her beloved companion dogs lost to age and illness over the years, saying no human can comfort sadness and loneliness quite like a dog.  But she felt ill prepared to take on another as physical ailments of her own crept in with the passing years.

Still, Nan remained a woman of tenacity and true grit.  She lived alone for most of her final years in a small condominium and enjoyed life as an independent woman again.  Making bold decisions, always having faith in herself.  Nan took great joy in her 55 years of friendship with many Neenah residents and businesses.  They will remember her gift of gab.  She loved visiting with her nieces and nephews.  She cherished her grandson, Craig, the great granddaughters, Brooke and Jordan, and their children.  She was ever so grateful for the weekly phone calls and visits of her friend, more deserving of the title, daughter-in-law, Debbie Techlin. 

Nan's life influenced her children's lives.  Her surviving son, Patrick, and daughter, Lynn, strive to reflect Nan's finer character traits, inherited or imitated.  Some of her hard lessons were actually learned, just not immediately evident. 

A private family service is planned at this time. A celebration of Nan's life will take place, at a later date, when there is sunshine, warmth, and it is safe to gather again. If so moved, any memorial donations honoring Nan's life would be welcomed by the Neenah Animal Shelter. 

Our prayer for her departure.  

You are loved now, and beyond. You will always remain in our hearts. We rejoice you are with those you love.