Ursula Martha Sommer

Ursula Martha (Olberg) Sommer of Dickens, Nebraska passed away Thursday, May 26, 2016 at El Dorado Nursing Home in Trenton, Nebraska. She was 74 years old. Ursula was born to Willi and Frieda (Schloetzer) Olberg on November 15, 1941 in Bayreuth, Germany. Along with her parents, her brother Gerd, and her sister Sieglinde, she survived a childhood in post-war West Germany through love, imagination, and hard work. She married Egon Sommer at the age of 21 and moved to Illinois. They were soon blessed with three children: William, Martin, and Carolyn, and then a fourth child, Susan, after they moved to Colorado. Her sister, Linde, also moved to the area and Ursula would often care for Lindes son, Eric, along with her own children while Linde worked. Ursula was always kind to children, family, and neighbors. She was a cub-scout leader in the neighborhood, and always had fun activities for the boys. It was the house on the block where all the children would come to play. Ursula was an excellent cook and gardener and was also very creative. She had an artistic flair, which presented itself in her flower arrangements, cake decorating, drawing, and crafts. Ursula was employed by upscale restaurants in Denver: the Denver Athletic Club and Brown Palace Hotel, creating elegant and delicious dishes for Denvers most affluent. Egon and Ursula retired to Dickens, Nebraska in 1996. There, Ursula continued to enjoy cooking and gardening, and served as a member and leader of her gardening club. She never arrived to an event empty-handed; she always brought a bouquet of flowers from her garden or a dish to share, and sometimes the entire meal! She continued to make decorated cakes for friends or family members events such as birthdays and weddings. Ursula was the person whom so many of us would call to talk about good days and bad days, and she always had a way of helping to make sense of it all and to offer some positive guidance. Her presence will be so deeply missed by those who knew and loved her. We can only try to honor the gifts she gave us by continuing her kindness to others through our own daily actions and by living well. Ursula was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Egon Sommer of Dickens; brother, Gerd Olberg (and wife Brigitta) of Grafenwoehr, Germany; sister, Sieglinde Gruner (with husband Myron) of Wellfleet, NE; her children, William Sommer of Spearfish, SD, Martin Sommer (and wife Christine) of Upton, WY, Carolyn Williamson (with husband Christopher) of Trenton; and Susan Schulze (with husband, Jared) of Thornton, CO; nephew, Eric, and nieces Annette, Tanja, and Doris; also, 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Memorials may be given in her name. Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 18, 2016, 2:00 p.m. at Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook with Dave Davidson officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at a later time. Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.