Margaret L. Thomas
June 18, 1925 - Aug. 31, 2004
Deerwood, Minn. / Alma Center, Wis. - Margaret L. Thomas, age 79, of Deerwood, Minn., and formerly of rural Alma Center and Black River Falls, died Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004, in the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby, Minn.
The former Margaret Lucille Gathje was born on June 18, 1925, in Stewartville, Minn. She was raised at Stewartville, and graduated from Chatfield High School, Chatfield, Minn. She was a graduate of the Kahler School of Nursing at Rochester, Minn.
Margaret married Edward Mark Thomas on April 3, 1949, in Rochester. The couple settled on the Thomas family farm in the Spring Creek area of Jackson County, Wis., where they farmed for several years. In 1960, the couple moved to the town of Alma, near Alma Center, Wis. Edward Thomas died on April 10, 1983.
Margaret was employed for over 30 years as a registered nurse - first at the Krohn Clinic and Hospital and later at Black River Memorial Hospital, both in Black River Falls, Wis. In 1988, she moved to Deerwood, Minn., to be near family members.
She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church of Deerwood and was a former member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Hixton, Wis. She enjoyed reading (particularly historical material), quilting, and church activities. She was an avid Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packer fan.
Survivors include two daughters, Christine (Kris) Rustad of Crosby, Minn., and Joanne (John) Dunn of Little Rock, Ark.; a son, Steven Thomas of Deerwood, Minn.; four grandchildren, Kiel Rustad, and Katie, Audrey, and Evan Dunn; a sister, Mary Spitzer of Rochester, Minn.; two brothers, Charles (Anna) Gathje of Rochester, Minn., and Leonard (Charlotte) Gathje of Pine Island, Minn.; a sister-in-law, Helen Gathje of Hixton; and numerous other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband, Margaret was preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Munson and Mildred Burke, and six brothers, Ray, Ralph, John, Kenneth, Roy, and Richard Gathje.
Funeral services were Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, at 11 a.m., from the Squaw Creek Lutheran Church, and burial was in the church cemetery, both in rural Black River Falls. The Rev. Calvin Thoreson officiated.
Casket bearers were Laurie Haines, Carol Hicks, Kris Rustad, Jim Gathje, and Mark Gathje.
Family and friends were invited to call at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until services.
The Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls, Wis., assisted the family with arrangements.
from the LaCrosse Tribune