Thora Margaret Augustine Zeitler passed away peacefully at home, Monday, April 23, 2018. She was born in Marinette, WI March 6, 1927 to Phillip and Matilda Augustine. She was the sixth child in a family of eight siblings. She attended Forrest View country school and graduated from Marinette High School, Marinette, WI.
Her dream was to become a nurse and she entered the Nursing Corp School sponsored by the military; until the program was discontinued when WWII ended.
Thora met her husband Kenneth Zeitler at a Halloween party on the home farm. They declared their engagement at another Halloween party and several years later eloped to Wichita, KS to marry on Halloween. Unfortunately, that year Halloween was on Sunday and the church only allowed weddings on Saturday. They married Saturday October 30, 1948. They resided in Wichita briefly and returned to Coleman, WI where Thora's sister Faye encouraged her to become a Beautician. She attended the Milwaukee Accredited School of Beauty Culture and returned to work at Eleanor's Beauty Salon in Peshtigo, WI. Later she returned to school to achieve her Managers License and opened The Skyline Beauty Shop in Monroe, WI. She supported her husband Ken in business opportunities within several communities across WI including Coleman, Kiel, Seymour and Monroe.
During her lifetime she was involved in numerous clubs, events and organizations; 4-H, Women's Club, and Naomi Circle. She was instrumental in the origin of the Altar Guild at Grace Lutheran Church and served as President and consultant in later years. Thora and Ken combined their love of church and children while they taught Sunday School for several years. Her hobbies were many, including ceramics, gardening, painting, reading, bird watching, sewing and event planning. She was an avid arborist and planted trees annually, a love she carried from childhood inspired by her father.
Thora is survived by sons, Ken S. and Chuck (Gail) Zeitler; daughters Carol (Larry) Ruch, Nancy (Terry) Larson, Ann (Steve) Halverson and daughter-in-law Joan Zeitler; her eleven grandchildren: Nicholas and Zachary Ruch, Jennifer and Jason Zeitler, Laura (Zeitler) Hibbard, Amanda, Kyle and Kristen Larson, Isaac, Madeline and Elizabeth Halverson and five great grandchildren; and 4 sisters.
She is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, Sr. and son Kenneth (Bud) Jr., parents Phillip and Matilda Augustine, two sisters and one brother.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 30, 2018 at Grace Lutheran Church, in Monroe, with Pastor John Tabaka officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel-Hawthorne Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday, April 30th, from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the church.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: shriner111.com.
Her dream was to become a nurse and she entered the Nursing Corp School sponsored by the military; until the program was discontinued when WWII ended.
Thora met her husband Kenneth Zeitler at a Halloween party on the home farm. They declared their engagement at another Halloween party and several years later eloped to Wichita, KS to marry on Halloween. Unfortunately, that year Halloween was on Sunday and the church only allowed weddings on Saturday. They married Saturday October 30, 1948. They resided in Wichita briefly and returned to Coleman, WI where Thora's sister Faye encouraged her to become a Beautician. She attended the Milwaukee Accredited School of Beauty Culture and returned to work at Eleanor's Beauty Salon in Peshtigo, WI. Later she returned to school to achieve her Managers License and opened The Skyline Beauty Shop in Monroe, WI. She supported her husband Ken in business opportunities within several communities across WI including Coleman, Kiel, Seymour and Monroe.
During her lifetime she was involved in numerous clubs, events and organizations; 4-H, Women's Club, and Naomi Circle. She was instrumental in the origin of the Altar Guild at Grace Lutheran Church and served as President and consultant in later years. Thora and Ken combined their love of church and children while they taught Sunday School for several years. Her hobbies were many, including ceramics, gardening, painting, reading, bird watching, sewing and event planning. She was an avid arborist and planted trees annually, a love she carried from childhood inspired by her father.
Thora is survived by sons, Ken S. and Chuck (Gail) Zeitler; daughters Carol (Larry) Ruch, Nancy (Terry) Larson, Ann (Steve) Halverson and daughter-in-law Joan Zeitler; her eleven grandchildren: Nicholas and Zachary Ruch, Jennifer and Jason Zeitler, Laura (Zeitler) Hibbard, Amanda, Kyle and Kristen Larson, Isaac, Madeline and Elizabeth Halverson and five great grandchildren; and 4 sisters.
She is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, Sr. and son Kenneth (Bud) Jr., parents Phillip and Matilda Augustine, two sisters and one brother.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 30, 2018 at Grace Lutheran Church, in Monroe, with Pastor John Tabaka officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel-Hawthorne Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday, April 30th, from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the church.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: shriner111.com.