Rose M. ‘Thea’ Theissen, 110, of Merrill, formerly of Fort Madison, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill.
Thea was born December 28, 1907, in Breckenridge, Minnesota, daughter of the late Clement and Mary (Linen) Schaefer. Thea graduated from Breckenridge High School and continued her education at State School of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota. She married Elmer Theissen on August 6, 1929. Elmer worked as a pharmacist for Ford Hopkins Drug Stores and was relocated several times. Thea and Elmer eventually settled in Fort Madison, Iowa, bought the Ford Hopkins Drug Store and renamed it Theissen Rexall Drug. Thea worked alongside her husband as a clerk at the pharmacy. Elmer passed away on September 15, 1991. Thea enjoyed volunteering and served with the Gray Ladies of the Red Cross in the Fort Madison area for over 55 years.
Thea moved to Merrill in 2004 and lived with her daughter for the past fourteen years. She was devoted to her Catholic faith and was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Merrill. Thea enjoyed taking walks, vegetable gardening, knitting, reading and receiving mail. Thea especially enjoyed attending her granddaughters’ events.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary McElwee of Waukesha, WI, Eleanor (Gary) Wright of Battle Creek, MI and Audrey Anderson of Merrill, WI; 13 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren. Thea was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Theissen; parents, Clement and Mary Schaefer; daughters, Ruth Rose Theissen and Helen Ann Theissen; great-grandson, Trevor Howard; siblings, Herb Schaefer, Clarence Schaefer, Anne Schaefer, Gertrude Hintgen and Rita Brenner; and son-in-law, Bill McElwee.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 P.M., Noon, Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Merrill. Father Chris Kemp will preside. Burial will take place at a later date in Gethsemane Cemetery, Fort Madison, Iowa. The family will receive friends beginning at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday at the church. Taylor-Stine Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Merrill, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com
The family would like to thank the staff at Pine Crest Nursing Home for taking such good care of ‘Grandma Thea’.
The family suggests memorials be directed to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Merrill.