Dee Dee Soderberg was a leader in the League of Women Voters

Darlene “Dee Dee” D. Soderberg, 75, of Roscoe, had a passion to serve. She was a registered nurse, an attorney, a community volunteer, a mother, and a grandmother.

She passed away on Monday, March 4, 2024.

Dee Dee completed her associates degree in nursing at Rock Valley College in 1982, when she was already past thirty. She continued her nursing education another level and received her BSN in 1985 from Rockford University, magna cum laude.

Her husband, Leroy “Wink” Soderberg, Jr., died on April 29, 1989. They were married for 21 years, wedded on March 16, 1968.

After having been a nurse for several years, Dee Dee resolved to go to law school. She graduated from NIU College of Law in 1995, when she was in her late forties. 

A 1967 graduate of East High School in Rockford, Dee Dee was born in Chicago, on December 17, 1948. She was the daughter of Richard Curtis Leonardson and Lucille Victoria Kuzniewicz.

Even when she was semi-retired from the law, Dee Dee was deeply active in volunteer work across the community. She posted events on the Rockton-Roscoe News events calendar and helped organize the recent candidate meet and greet at Roscoe Township Community Center, where she attended events.

Through her passion for voter registration, she became co-chair of the Voter Service Committee of the League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford (LWVGR). In her spare time, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and traveling. She enjoyed spending summers at Castle Rock Lake, on the water, with family and friends.

She is survived by her children, Chad (Anne) Soderberg and Barb (Matt) Zimmerman; grandchildren, Reid and Dean Soderberg, Kelsey, Kendra and Kailin Zimmerman, Kayla (Bryce) Cullen, and Justin Tilley.

She was predeceased by her parents.

For those who knew her, a quote from Ruth Bader Ginsberg is significant: "Fight for things you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you."

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Olson North Main Chapel, 2811 N. Main St., Rockford. Before the service, friends and family will have a visitation from noon to 12:45 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, you may give to Miss Carly’s or Mending Hearts Rescue in her memory. You can register to vote at https://wincoil.gov/departments/clerks-office/election-information.

More News from Roscoe

• Strong spirits: life After the sleep of winter, life jumps out at us everywhere.
• News Briefs 4/27/2024 In the news: independent books, Main Street Roscoe, Rockton water, farming local, moms, new song