Lillian Thoe, 95, of Iola, WI took her final journey on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at Comforts of Home in Iola, surrounded by unimaginable love.
Born Glenora Lillian Peterson in the Township of Harrison, WI on April 5th, 1920, daughter of Viggo and Clara (Olson) Peterson. As the oldest, she was responsible for helping care for her sisters and brothers, in addition to helping them on the farm. As a young lady she met and later married James Thoe of Iola. They were married in the Hitterdahl parsonage on June 30th, 1937. Shortly after moving onto the Thoe Farm she had their first son, Gary, then not long after a second son, Larry, came along. James worked on the farm and Lillian kept up the housework while chasing after the boys. When Gary and Larry were old enough to help out a little, son number three arrived, Richard, and the Thoe Farm was getting a little cramped; Anton, Lillian’s father-in-law built a house next door for him and his wife Anne (Aasen). Through the years Lillian kept the farm going and when searching for free time she enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening, and baking, as well as being an active member at Hitterdahl Church. Lillian loved and enjoyed every moment at Hitterdahl, as a Sunday school teacher, circle member, and voice in the choir. Once the boys married and started their own families, Lillian’s added focus was now becoming full time care taker of the next generation of rugrats. Before her eyes started to fail her, she worked on handcrafted quilts for all grandbabies. As they got older, she would put them to work picking apples from the orchard to make apple crisp or helping grandpa in the hayfields. And, with all the extra bodies around, there was always something special on the table or in the oven. It would be a lie to say no one got handed a plate of food when you walked into her house. The most important thing to Lillian was her “gigantic family” as she affectionately refer to it.
She is survived by her brother Everett (Anita) Peterson, her sister Norma (late Arnold) Gregerson; her three sons: Gary (Eileen) Thoe, Larry (Renee Foiles) Thoe, and Rick (Sylvia) Thoe; her 13 grandchildren: Mark (Kris) Thoe, Tim Thoe, Scott (Patti Hanke) Thoe, Deborah (Jim) Golke, Sherri (Jessie) Tejeda, Kim (David) Barncord, Mike (Shelley) Olinger, Kevin (Lara) Thoe, Susie (Denny) McGlin, Sarah (Mike Firkus) Thoe, Heidi (Jerry) Rutherford-Thoe, Amy (Kent Hollrah) Thoe, and Erik (Megan) Thoe; an amazing 16 great-grandchildren: Harrison, Blake, Amanda, Karly, Tara (Joseph), Tia, Maria, Stephanie, William, Nathan (Candie), Nicholas, Joseph (Jessica), Angela (Nick), Levi (Mary), Ian, and Ainsley; and 11 great-great-grandchildren: Alex, Brennen, Bryan, Allexis, McKenna, Zander, Ayden, Evelyn, Lilli, Pierce, and Willow. In addition, numerous cherished nieces and nephews. She is preceded by her parents, her sister Adeline (the late Alan) Moe, brother Gene (May), husband James, two daughters-in-law, Kristy and Mary, and great-grandson David Thoe. In her final days Lillian said, “I did what I could for all of them.” – Yes you did. God Bless you Lillian.
Funeral services will be held at noon Friday, April 10, 2015 at the Hitterdahl Lutheran Church, N8808 County J Iola, Wisconsin. Visitation will be held Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hitterdahl Lutheran Church. On line condolences and guest book [email protected].