Helen A. Thern

Our beautiful mother, Helen A. (Welch) Thern, age 82, was carried on angels’ wings to her heavenly home on Saturday, May 19, 2018, unexpectedly due to a brain aneurysm. She is now in the company of her beloved Savior and loved ones. She was born at her home in the town of Black Creek on November 1, 1935, daughter of the late George and Gladys (Wagner) Welch. On July 16, 1955, she was united in marriage to John Thern and together they were blessed with eight children. Our mother was a gift from God who shared herself unselfishly with others. As a mother of eight, she was our most important teacher- a woman of unparalleled strength and stamina with God as her guide. She worked on the family farm from sunrise to sunset, finding time to make delicious homemade meals, canning produce, being involved in 4-H, tending her garden, and sewing- always striving to be a wife, mother, sister, and friend that honored her family and her faith.

She was a long-time member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Stephensville, and an active member of the Ladies Aid and Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society. Mom was a woman whose beauty was reflected in the faces of the flowers she tended, bringing surprise bouquets to neighbors, family, friends, and folks in nursing homes in need of being reminded that someone cared. She loved playing cards each week with her sisters and sister-in-law, finding joy in their laughter and love. She treasured her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always remembered all of their birthdays and had an innate ability to always buy the perfect gift for each. Mom gave so much throughout her life. She liked to end each day with something sweet.

We celebrate her life and rejoice in knowing that her “sweet” life here has ended and her next has begun in the heavenly mansions of blue above.

She will be greatly missed by her eight children: Tina Auer, New London; Paula (Glenn) Upp, Appleton; Julie (Rodney) Barkholtz, New London; Amy (Tom) Baumgart, Greenville; Beth (Phil) Knutzen, New London; Victor (Leigh) Thern, New London, Scott (Heidi) Thern, New London, and Jamie Thern, Kaukauna; thirty grandchildren: Jeremiah (Kim) Auer, Heidi (Nick) Stein, Maria (Nick ) Salmon, Grady (Sarah) Auer, Cassie (Travis) Martzahl, Levi (Darcey) Upp, Melissa (James) Krueger II, Jennifer (Chris) Kern, Michelle Price, Daydre (Brian) Ring, Joe Barkholtz (friend Alicia), Linsy, Kim (friend Brian), Crystal and Morgan Baumgart, Tabitha (Jesse) Smith, Hogan, Serena and Quintin Knutzen, Tori (Bobby) Klein, Ellyn (Trevor) Schroeder, Sydney and Sam Thern, Tanner, Carson (friend Sarah), Jadyne, Camden and Landon Thern, Cassie (fiancé Corey) and Carter Thern; and forty one great-grandchildren: Jeremiah, Grace, Anna, Ella, Aidan & Caleb Auer; Olivet, Ira, Una & Arlo Stein; Liliana & Zinnia Salmon; Griffin, Emery & Macy Auer; Trevan, Mara, Bella Martzahl, Tyler, Evan, Annabelle & Eden Upp; Aubree (fiancé Chace), Brenna, Matthew & Gabriel Krueger; Marissa, Eliana, Garrett & Courtney Kern; Caleb Kosiorek, Beckham & Mya Price; Ethan, Jackson & Braeden Ring; Blaize Rates; Brooklynn & Parker Smith; Halo Klein & Baby Schroeder (due in August). She is further survived by her siblings: Marian (Stanley) Voight, Dorothy (Dwain) Johnson, Jeanne (Larry) Cisewski, Dennis (Bridget) Welch and brothers-in-law, Howard Thern and Jerome Thern.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Thern and his parents, Victor (Evelyn) Thern; her parents; sister, Ilene Myers; brother, Wayne Welch; siblings-in-law: Harland (LaJoy) Thern, Dorothy (John) Engel, Carol Thern, Sandra Thern, and Robert Jenkel; son-in-law James Auer; and grandson Wyatt Thern.

The funeral service for Helen will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH, W7870 Mason St. Hortonville, 54944. There will be a time of visitation the evening prior, Tuesday May 22, 2018, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at church, as well as again on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wichmannfargo.com.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” -1 Corinthians 13:13