William H. "Bill" Somers

William "Bill" Henry Somers, 86, of Hickory Corners died Sunday, December 24, 2017 at his home where he had lived for 55 years.

He was born April 29, 1931 in Kalamazoo, MI. the son of Grant and Tina Somers. Bill graduated from Kalamazoo Central and WMU, with a degree in Paper Science. His schooling at WMU was halted when the Korean War started and he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served until the war ended. His career was spent in the paper industry where he held Trustee positions in the WMU Paper Science Foundation and in the Paper Industry Management Association. He worked for Englehard Minerals and Chemicals for 30 years and retired from there as a National Accounts Manager.

Bill married the former Janeth "Jan" Estella Petzke on September 28, 1961. She preceded him in death on September 25, 2009. He was also preceded in death by his two siblings, Shirley Esslair and John Somers.

He took pride in caring for the needs of his family and providing them with varied experiences that taught valuable life lessons. His interests were remarkably varied. Bill loved to spend time outdoors. When he graduated from college and had some extra spending money, he purchased a Star-Class sailboat and taught himself how to sail on Gull Lake. Coming from a long line of carpenters, he completely restored a 19' Lyman wooden inboard boat in his garage one cold winter. Despite being born and raised in the city, he purchased a farm near Delton in 1976, and took it upon himself to work the ground himself, raising crops and animals, including his favorite Polled Herefords. Not one to sit idle, he chose to cut/split/burn wood to heat the family home while the kids were growing up.

In retirement he loved to play golf, fiddle around on the farm property, take cruises in his pontoon boat, and travel in Europe with Jan. Bill loved history and admired Winston Churchill for his leadership in the face of tyranny during WWII. He led the way to church each Sunday and in 1983 he was a founding member of the Richland Bible Church.

Surviving are his two children, Elizabeth Marie (Tim) Ferguson of Hickory Corners, William Henry (Barbara) Somers, III, of Muscatine, IA. and granddaughters Sydney Elizabeth Ferguson and Taylor Marie Ferguson.

The family will receive friends 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 6th at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel where funeral services to celebrate Bill's life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday. Interment will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery, Richland. Memorials directed to the Hickory Corners Bible Church, would be appreciated. Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Bill may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.