Services
Obituary
Gilman D. Soma, 95, of Belmond, passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.
Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 304 3rd Avenue Northeast in Belmond, with Pastor Katie Pals officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Monday, May 26, 2025 at Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick’s Lane South in Belmond, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Belmond-Klemme Scholarship Fund II, St. Croix Hospice, or to the donor’s choice.
Gilman Duane Soma was born on October 22, 1929, to Norris and Eveline (Johnson) Soma on the family farm near Hickory Grove north of Belmond, Iowa. He lived his entire life in Belmond and was a lifelong farmer.
Gilman enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1950, and was honorably discharged in September 1954. He served as a Radioman with the Admiral’s Staff on the USS Piedmont, USS Prairie and USS McCoy Reynolds Destroyer Tenders in the Pacific fleet during the Korean War. He returned to Belmond after his Navy service to begin farming, and met Sandra Skjeie from Forest City at a dance in Duncan, Iowa. They were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Fire Side Room in Forest City on June 3, 1955.
Gilman was the epitome of a strong work ethic. He loved farming, milking cows and raising livestock. He and Sandra farmed for 52 years, until he finally retired at age 79. He was a great example of a hardworking, fun-loving husband, Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa. Always with a quick wit or joke, he was a staple at several coffee spots in Belmond.
He was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church his entire life, serving as an usher, and on the church council. He even helped transport bricks from the railway to the construction site of the new church building in 1948. Gilman was an excellent woodworker, and built several pieces for the church over the years, including small crosses for all of the confirmation students.
He served on the board of directors for the Belmond Creamery and Farmers Grain Elevator for several years, and was a member of the Belmond Gridiron Club for 40 years.
Gilman is survived by four children: Marilyn (Steve) Janssen, Steve (Barb) Soma all of Belmond, Judy Cooper (Doug Nease) of Urbandale, and Jane (Tim) Janssen of Ankeny. Seven grandchildren: Jessica Lane (Dan Carolus), Nichole Thomson, Marc Cooper, Eric (Sarah) Janssen, Brad (Paige) Soma, Nolan Janssen and Amy (Ryan) Murray. Fifteen great-grandchildren: Alexis Lane; Cooper Thomson and Zoe Ernst; Kindin Cooper; Brylee, Lynden, Collyns and Hayes Janssen; Mia, Isaac, Lily and Isaiah Soma; Ella Janssen; and Rowan and Callan Murray. Special foreign exchange “granddaughter” Natalie (Kris) Theeten and their children, Nils, Ludo and Lars of Switzerland. Sister-in-law Phebe Soma.
Gilman was preceded in death by his wife Sandra (2020), parents; six sisters and their spouses: Dorothy and Lyle Barkema, Eleanor and Alvin Pals, Muriel and Duane Durant, Betty and Donnie Dorenkamp, Lois and Jim Beisner, Shirley and Arlen Pals; brother: Charles Soma; and grandson-in-law, Matt Ernst.