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Maria Marguerete “Mia” Sommer Henning

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Birth	:	20 Jul 1891 Schalke, Stadtkreis Gelsenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Death	:	27 Mar 1972 Tracy, San Joaquin County, California, USA
Burial	:	Tracy Public Cemetery, Tracy, San Joaquin County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.7251358, -121.4189453
Plot	:	Sect W Tier 10
Description	:	Maria Marguerete Augusta Victoria Sommer was born the 20th of July, 1891 in Schalke, Nordrhein-Westfalen Lande, Germany to Bernard Wilhelm Sommer and Anna Maria Pröse. Her father died when she was not quite 13 months old and then her mother married Gerhardt Hofacker in 1893. Her family later nicknamed her Mia, the cat, because of her constant flirting. Mia immigrated to America in 1903 with her mother, step-father and 5 of her 6 siblings. Her oldest brother "Webs" remained in Germany to finish his year at school before also sailing to America. Her step-father sexually abused... Read More	Maria Marguerete Augusta Victoria Sommer was born the 20th of July, 1891 in Schalke, Nordrhein-Westfalen Lande, Germany to Bernard Wilhelm Sommer and Anna Maria Pröse. Her father died when she was not quite 13 months old and then her mother married Gerhardt Hofacker in 1893. Her family later nicknamed her Mia, the cat, because of her constant flirting. Mia immigrated to America in 1903 with her mother, step-father and 5 of her 6 siblings. Her oldest brother "Webs" remained in Germany to finish his year at school before also sailing to America. Her step-father sexually abused her as a young girl and this had a lasting affect on her. Al Hofer, her youngest 1/2 brother said: "Mia was afraid to go to the privy alone especially at night. So, she'd get me to go to the privy with her and she'd always tell me a story. They were fascinating stories. I loved listening. She was a good storyteller." When he was older Mia used to tell Al, "A woman can get a man to do anything she wants him to do." She married Karl Julius Henning about 1910 presumably in Minnesota. He was born the 21st of December, 1886 in Ellrich, Germany to Karl George Henning and Johanna Friese and arrived in America in January of 1909. Their son Erwin Julius Henning was born December 3, 1910 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Mia then had two full term pregnancies where the baby died just before or at birth. A male, K. J. Henning was born and died in 1913 and a unnamed female was born and died in 1914. The 17th of November, 1915 Mia gave birth to another dead baby girl. Another woman gave birth to a baby girl the same day at the same hospital. She was a musician, I believe a pianist. Her husband was also a musician with a traveling orchestra. She completely rejected her baby; she wouldn't look at it or touch it. She felt it would interfere with her career. The doctors were concerned about Mia's mental health once she discovered her baby had again died. They switched the two babies unbeknownst to her. Karl and the little girl's birth parents were in agreement with the switch. Later after Mia was attached to Margery Mia Henning she was told what had happened. Years later it was discovered that Mia was RH negative and that was why her babies kept dieing. Margery was never told she was adopted. When Mia died there was a sealed manila envelope found in her belongings that was to be destroyed without opening. I believe it was Margery's birth information. Margery discovered she was adopted a few years before she died. In 1918 Mia had one other baby born dead. Karl and Mia were living next door to her sister, Anna and Emil Petry in Colfax, Dunn County, Wisconsin in 1920. By 1921 they were living at 546 43rd in Richmond, Contra Costa County, California; Karl was a contractor involved in building homes in the area. Karl and Mia raised Karl's sister's son, Frank Dietrich after his mother, Anna Johanna Henning Dietrich died in 1927. Four years later they took in Frank's brother, Otto Jr., when Al and Mary Hofer felt they could no longer care for him. In 1930 the family was living in Oakland, Alameda County, California. Karl died the 26th of October, 1939 in Oakland, Alameda County, California and was buried in Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito, Contra Costa County, California according to notes written by Mia. She never remarried and was quite active in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Upon reaching the USA Mia learned millinery and worked as a furrier earning money to help her mother. She was an excellent seamstress and knitter. She loved to write and tell stories. After joining the Seventh Day Adventist Church in 1921 she taught children and tutored people in her home in her later years. Her grand niece, Susan remembers: "I spent a week with Tante (aunt) Mia several summers as a young teenager. She was a very short, plump woman, who was fascinating, vivacious, and exuberant about life. She loved astronomy and often slept on a cot in her backyard under a large tree during the hot summers in Tracy. When I visited she pointed out many of the contellations and individual stars." Mia died the 27th of March, 1972 in Tracy, San Joaquin County, California and is buried there in the Tracy Public Cemetery, Written by Susan Kimes Burgess

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Maria Marguerete “Mia” Sommer Henning's memorial?
Maria Marguerete “Mia” Sommer Henning's memorial is located at: Tracy Public Cemetery, Tracy, San Joaquin County, USA.
When did Maria Marguerete “Mia” Sommer Henning death?
Maria Marguerete “Mia” Sommer Henning death on 27 Mar 1972 in Tracy, San Joaquin County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Maria Marguerete “Mia” Sommer Henning's memorial?
Latitude: 37.7251358
Longitude: -121.4189453

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Parent

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Siblings

Herman John Hofacker

(1894 - 1968)

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Nearby Cemetories:

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