Thelma Grace Cadwell

Funeral service for Thelma Grace Cadwell, 90, of White Township will be 11 am Friday, May 23, 2014 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Palo, with Pastor Brendan Johnston officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Rauha Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora. Thelma died Thursday, May 15, 2014 at St. Michael’s Health and Rehabilitation in Virginia. She was born on September 8, 1923 to William August and Elsie Gay (Gilmar) Koester in Holland Township, IL. Growing up, Thelma’s family moved between South Dakota, Pine River, MN and Arkansas. She graduated from the Yellville High School in Yellville, AK, Class of 1942. Thelma was employed at Durkee’s in Pine River, varnishing wooden spools used for cable. She was united in marriage to Winston Cadwell on June 21, 1943 in Pine River, MN. While Winston was serving in the US Forces overseas during WWII, Thelma went to work for the US Defense Dept in Gary, IN, canning bombs. After the war the couple lived in Pine River for thirteen years before moving to the Iron Range. She was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo, The VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 8144 in Hoyt Lakes, Soar, Palo/Markham Senior Citizen’s, and TOPS where she achieved her goal. Thelma was very active in the community and lived a life of volunteer service, having volunteered in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the hospital, and her church. Thelma was a very artistic and creative person who had a deep appreciation for nature. She enjoyed needlecrafts, painting, ceramics, challenging her brain with various puzzles and games, and redesigning new clothes from old designs. Survivors include her children: Viva (Roy) Kuitunen of White Township, Edith (Archie) Hamilton of Corpus Christi, TX, and William (Cheryl) Cadwell of Aurora; ten grandchildren: Bobbi (Lance Green) Hayes, Dirk (Patricia) Hamilton, Aric Hamilton, Eric Kuitunen, Noelle (Richard) Kuitunen-Johnson, Jeremy Kuitunen, John Cadwell, Julie Cadwell, Joshua (Helen) Cadwell and Tiffany Cadwell; Five great-grandchildren: Bennett and Asher Johnson, Kyle and Sarah Green and Gracie Hamilton; a sister, Alvena (Lloyd) Blasdel of Yellville, AK; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Winston; son, Myles Cadwell; infant grandson, Jay Kuitunen; six brothers, Cordelius, Rex, Hobert, Dale, Arnold, and Victor; a sister, H. Jean; and her parents.