Priscilla Jane Suomi

Priscilla (Jane) Suomi, 85, of Mesa, Arizona, formerly a resident of Amherst, Wisconsin, passed away February 25th, 2025 in Mesa. She was born Priscilla Jane McKlem, December 12th, 1939 in Wahoo, Nebraska and grew up on the family’s farm at Ithaca, Nebraska.

After graduating high school she began her career in the telephone company, first with Southwest Bell and later with the Amherst Telephone Company. On June 6th, 1962 she was married to Hans V. Suomi in Ithaca and took up residence with Hans in San Diego, California where he was stationed with the United States Navy. Hans’ career in the Navy evidentially lead them to Steven’s Point, Wisconsin in 1972 and they soon moved to Amherst where they made their home for forty years. Jane was employed several years with Sentry Insurance Company before joining the Amherst Telephone Company where she worked more than 25 years, retiring in 2005.

During the couple’s time in Amherst, Jane was very active in the civic and community life of Amherst, keeping herself busy helping with local events and celebrations. She was for many years a volunteer assistant to the Relay for Life in support of that organization’s efforts in fund raising and public awareness to the issues of Breast Cancer. She was a devoted and active Member of the Amherst United Methodist Church and enjoyed working on their seasonal bazaars and other functions. In 2006 Jane and Hans were named as “Persons of the Year” by the Community Spirit of Amherst. She and her husband were honored by the recognition they had received by their friends and neighbors in the small and peaceful town they had made their home and had grown to love. She enjoyed the changing of the seasons with the new growth of Spring, the blossoms and warmth of Summer, the brilliance of the Fall Colors of Autumn, and the glow of holiday lights and decorations in the Winter’s snow.

After retirement Jane and Hans spent several seasons ‘Snow-birding’ in Mesa, Arizona before finally moving there in 2014. Jane is preceded in death by her loving and beloved husband of 59 years, Hans V. Suomi, and her sister Colleen (Lyle) Muller. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Lyle Muller of Chandler, Arizona, her sister-in-law Mary Ann Mosier and brother-in-law Stephen Mosier, of Brush Prairie, Washington, and by cousins and nieces. Jane will be dearly missed and warmly remembered by the many friends and family who love her.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Amherst United Methodist Church. There will be a Memorial service for Jane at the St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, Mesa, Arizona on April 7th at 10:00 am which will be live-streamed through the church website - https://stmatthewmesa.churchtrac.com/