MARGARET R. “MARGE” SOMMERS, 84, of Prophetstown, IL, died Friday, June 24, 2016, in her home.

Marge was born July 8, 1931 in Garrison, ND, to Frank and Ruth (Fitzgerald) Schehl. She was a graduate of Erie High School in Erie, IL, and attended Marycrest College in Davenport, IA and the Chicago Conservatory of Music. Marge married Richard W. Sommers on July 19, 1952 in Prophetstown, IL. He died on July 20, 2013. For many years she worked for the Sterling Gazette, Quad City Times, Moline Dispatch and Kewanee Star Courier newspapers. She was employed at Farmer’s National Bank in Prophetstown and the Prophetstown School District. In her spare time she gave piano lessons to local children. She also owned and operated the Rock River House in Prophetstown, and Family Affair, catering many local weddings and events. Marge was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Prophetstown, where she served as organist for many years. She was a member of the Prophetstown American Legion Auxiliary, the Main Street Program, the Historical Society and the American Field Service. She was active in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, baseball and softball. She enjoyed bowling with her friends. She was very involved in the genealogy of the family, a great thrill was to make a trip to Ireland to trace her heritage. Marge took great joy in being a part of the Fitzgerald Reunions that took place every summer. The reunion took Marge and Dick to many different states around the country and she truly enjoyed her time with her extended family. Marge rarely missed an extra-curricular event of her children growing up and especially enjoyed supporting her grandchildren in their endeavors, she was a fixture in the stands for many years.

Survivors include three daughters, Kim (Greg) Schmitt, Kate (Tony) Cody, Karyn (Trent) Buck – all of Prophetstown; one daughter-in-law, Margie Sommers of Prophetstown; three sons, Kurt (Carolyn) Sommers of San Diego, CA, Kerry (Kathy) Sommers of Coal Valley, IL and Kraig (Jessie) Sommers of Freeport, IL; fourteen grandchildren, Jon (Erin) Kiley, Tessa, Maggie (Adam), Brady (Melissa), Taylor (Michael), Allie, Morgan, Marquise, Allisa, Emma, Kory, Kennedy and Keirdan; three step-grandchildren, Erica (Jeremy), Matt and Alex; six great-grandchildren, Mykinzie, Dakota, Benjamin, Jacob, Myles and Jaxson; three sisters, Shirley McKenna of Sterling, IL, Marilyn (Bernard) Null of Erie, IL and Eileen Detra of Prophetstown; two brothers, Dennis (Maureen) Schehl of Sykesville, MD and Bill (Judy) Schehl of Cambridge, IL; one sister-in-law, Diane (Robert) Roman of Prophetstown; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; one son, Kris W. Sommers; one granddaughter, Nikole Sommers; three brothers-in-law, Ron Holtz, Robert McKenna and Neil Detra.

Funeral Information

FUNERAL MASS: 11:00 AM, Friday, July 1, 2016, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Prophetstown, IL

OFFICIATING: Rev. Father Francis Wawryszuk – Pastor of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Prophetstown, IL

VISITATION: 4:00 – 8:00 PM Thursday, June 30, 2016, at the at the Bosma-Gibson Funeral Home in Prophetstown, IL with a 3:30 Rosary Service preceding the Visitation

INTERMENT: Riverside Cemetery – Prophetstown, IL

Donations Information

Memorials to the Prophetstown Historical Society and Main Street Program have been established.