After 105+years of celebrating life and enjoying the many people she loved and met, Arlene Thomas passed away peacefully in her sleep Monday, Feb. 22 at the Rennes Health & Rehab Center in De Pere, Wis.
Arlene was born May 31, 1910, in Algoma, Wis. to Joseph and Anna (Chapek) Stika and in 1937 married Norbert Thomas in Maplewood, Wis. During World War II, she sold war bonds, volunteered for the Red Cross blood drive, and made bandages for the wounded.
Along with being an avid bridge player, artist and reader, she was an active member of St Mary's Rosary Society; Door County Writers Club; and a founding member of the Friends of the Algoma Library, which formed in 1975. With her sharp wit and flair for history, Arlene documented her life stories in Algoma and at the age of 103 published her memoirs, "Bricks in the Bed."
Arlene is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Norbert; brothers Elmer and Melvin Stika; sister, Dorothy Marquardt; grandchildren Steve Thomas Jr., Stacie Thomas-Kopchinski and Stephanie Thomas. She is survived by her children and spouses: Stephen and Shirley Thomas; Tom Thomas and Connie Schmitt; and Mary Thomas.
Visitation will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Algoma on Friday, February 26, 2016 from 10-11 am. Funeral Service at 11:00 am with Father Ron Columbo and Deacon Chuck Agnew officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Online condolence messages may be expressed here .
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be donated to the Friends of the Algoma Library.
The Thomas Family wishes to express their since gratitude to the staff of Rennes Health & Rehab Center and Unity Hospice for their care and kindness of Arlene in her final years.
