Eleanor Agnes Thole

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ELEANOR A. THOLE

BORN
September 14, 1926
Cherokee, Iowa

PASSED AWAY
March 21, 2016
Sheldon, Iowa

FUNERAL MASS
10:30 A.M. Monday, March 28, 2016
St. Patricks Catholic Church; Sheldon, Iowa

CONCELEBRANTS
Father Siby Punnoose & Father Tim Hogan

Visitation will be after 4:00pm Sunday, March 27, 2016
with a parish rosary at 4:30pm; the family will be present from 5:00 7:00pm
at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Sheldon, Iowa
and a Christian Wake Service at 7:00pm
all at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Sheldon, Iowa.

MUSIC
Gathering: Be Not Afraid
Preparation of Altar & Gifts: Amazing Grace
Communion: Hail Mary Gentle Woman
Ave Maria Sung by: Rosa Gude
Song of Farewell
Sending: On Eagles Wings
Organist: Laura Wagner
Cantors: Jim & Linda Gude

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS
Granddaughters
Tami Pattison Tonya Nichols Danielle Skoglund
Megan & Erin Thole Karla Bechtold Jamie Greene
Kerry Acker Casie & Aracely Sullivan Kelli Helgeland
Sarah Ommen Sonya Peters Stephanie Ball & Angela Sonius

CASKET BEARERS
Grandsons
Tim Honkomp Todd Honkomp Brian Thole Paul Thole
Steven Thole Jeremy Strivens Marc Fritz Justin Fritz
Brett Fritz Kyle Helgeland Cody Helgeland Tyler Ommen

FINAL RESTING PLACE
St. Marys Catholic Cemetery
Ashton, Iowa

After todays graveside service the family invites relatives
and friends to join them at the Ashton Legion Hall
for a time of fellowship.

Arrangements are under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa.

Eleanor A. Tholewas born September 14, 1926, on a farm near Maryhill in Cherokee County, Iowa, the daughter of Bernard and Cecelia (Klunenberg) Kosse. She attended school at Maryhill until 1936 when the family moved to a farm near Marcus, Iowa. Eleanor later graduated from Holy Name High School in Marcus in 1945. She then worked for her father on the farm.
On February 17, 1947, she married Edmund W. Thole in Marcus Iowa. After their marriage they farmed 17 years near Hospers, Iowa; then farmed near Ashton, Iowa from 1964 to 1992 until they moved into Ashton. Eleanor entered Sanford Senior Care in May of 2012.
Eleanor was a member of the choir at St. Marys in Ashton for many years, and frequently led the rosary before Mass. She was an excellent cook and made many memories gardening, canning, and raising chickens. She loved to make her grandchildren and great grandchildren laugh and taught her family many of lifes lessons. Reading mysteries and assembling puzzles were her favorite pass times along with playing cards and spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed traveling with Ed to visit family throughout the United States and a special trip to Medjugorje.
This past Monday, March 21, 2015, Eleanor passed away at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon at the age of 89. Survivors include her ten children and their spouses: Carol (Dave) Honkomp of Paullina, Michael (Beth) Thole of Sibley, Don (Cindy) Thole of Melvin, Kathy (Byron) Strivens of Oregon City, OR, Sharon (Joe) Sullivan of Amarillo, TX, Jo (Al) Fritz of Paullina, Ron (Brenda) Thole of Ashton, Eileen (Jim) Helgeland of Toccoa, GA, Paula (Rich) Morgan of Sheldon, and Karen Thole of Sheldon. Also surviving are twenty-five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren, along with one brother, Alfred Kosse, one sister Millie Schmidt and sister-in-law, Florence Thole.
Preceding Eleanor in death were her husband, Ed, of 58 years on June 12, 2005, her parents, son John, two sisters, Alvina and Angeline, and brother, Gregory.
Eleanor was thankful for all of her friends and their wonderful memories. Her family is also grateful for the skilled and compassionate care Mom received at Sanford Senior Care.