Leonard Albert Somero

Leonard Albert Somero, 93, of New Ipswich, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at Pheasant Wood Center in Peterborough.

Leonard Somero was born in New Ipswich, NH on April 2, 1924, son of the late Matti and Olga (Strom) Somero. He attended schools in New Ipswich and was a 1943 graduate of Appleton Academy and also a graduate of International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, PA in electrical engineering. He married Elizabeth Rene Smith on June 5, 1955, in Dryden, New York.

Leonard served his country honorably in the U.S. Army and also received honorary rank of Ensign from the US Navy in 1942 for his scale model aircraft which was used during WWII.

He started his electrical career at General Electric working on jet engines. During his 27 years at Seppala & Aho Construction Company, he worked as job supervisor and general electrician. He worked as an independent licensed electrician well into his 80’s.

In his earlier years, Leonard was a hunter, fisherman, and an inventor. He loved to socialize with family, friends, and everyone with whom he came in contact. He was very proud of his Finnish heritage. He loved traveling around the US and Finland, but the thing most important to him was his faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Leonard was predeceased by his beloved wife Elizabeth on June 20, 2016, by his brothers Levi, Leo, twin brother Robert, and his only sister, Elna Gross.

Surviving are his three sons, Brian, Roger with his wife Cathy, and Kevin with his wife Nancy, and his daughter Colleen with her husband John Ruotsala, all of New Ipswich; his grandchildren: Seija (Timothy) Boyle, Sean, Kaylee, Peter (Melodie), Reuben (Meghan), and Craig Somero, Angela (Caleb) Seppanen, and Tyler Somero, Ryan, Gary (Melissa), and Bruce Ruotsala, and great-grandchildren Kaija Somero, Linnea and Paisley Somero, Joseph Somero, and Joshua, Waylon and Evan Ruotsala.

Calling hours are from 6 to 8 PM at the Apostolic Lutheran Church, 117 Goen Road in New Ipswich, on Monday, August 21, 2017. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 22, at 11AM at the Apostolic Lutheran Church with burial following at the Smithville Cemetery in New Ipswich.