Gudrun "Goodie" S. Thomas

Funeral services for Gudrun “Goodie” Sophie Thomas, 101, of Biwabik will be 11 AM Friday, January 31, 2014 at the Community United Church of Christ in Biwabik with Rev. Paul Van Antwerp officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Gudrun (Goodie) Sophie Thomas was born on September 1, 1912 to Johanna and Christ Olsen in Deer River, Minnesota. She died on January 23, 2014 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Maplewood, MN. She grew up in Mt. Iron, MN where she lived until marrying Clyde M. Thomas of Biwabik, MN on December 23, 1939. They made their home in Biwabik, where Clyde worked for Erie Mining Co., and Goodie worked as a homemaker. Goodie was a member of Community United Church of Christ, Ladies Auxiliary, and Women’s Life. She and her friends enjoyed many activities that kept her active. Whether it was shoveling snow, planting flowers or visiting friends and family, she stayed busy. At age 90 she learned how to use a computer so that she could communicate with her family via email. Goodie lived in Biwabik until age 92 when poor health prompted her to move to Lake Elmo, MN to live with her daughter and family. Her sense of humor and loving spirit helped immensely in her transition to Good Samaritan Nursing Home where she resided from 2005 until her death. She made a number of very good friends not only with other residents but her caregivers as well. Her cheerful and caring nature was warmly received. She actively participated in many activities from Music Bingo to Bible Study. Her grandchildren held a special place in her heart. Making decorated sugar cookies, challenging them to a foot race across an open field or singing a tune were just a few of the activities enjoyed together. In the last couple of years four great-grandchildren brought additional happiness into her life. She was a very self-reliant, feisty person who loved life. We will miss her dearly. She is survived by her only child, Judith Malmberg, and her husband John, Lake Elmo, MN; her grandchildren Deborah Smith (Scott), Mahtomedi, MN, Joseph Malmberg (Christine), St. Paul, MN, and Christina Ouska (Matthew), Edina, MN, her great grandchildren Jackson and Whitney Smith, Maija Gudrun Kain-Malmberg, and Alexander Ouska; her sister Gladys Johnson, Mt. Iron, MN and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Clyde, who died on August 30, 1980, her twin brother Oscar Olsen, and her sister Esther Dowzicky.