Thelma S. Crowell, 94, formerly of Rockford, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at the Nora Springs Care Center.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, 805 E. Main Ave. in Rockford. Officiating will be the Rev. Patricia Shaw. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Friday at the Fullerton Schumburg Funeral Home, 302 W. Main St., Rockford. Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery in Marble Rock. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Zion Lutheran Church. Thoughts, condolences, and stories may be shared with the family through the www.Fullertonfh.com Web site.
Thelma was born on Nov. 19, 1914, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Talmer and Stina (Stoen) Dahlen. They moved to Frost, where she lived for 13 years and was confirmed and baptized into the Lutheran faith. Her family moved to Marble Rock in 1929, where she graduated from Marble Rock High School in 1932. Thelma was united in marriage to Blaine Adelbert Crowell on June 16, 1934, in Charles City, Iowa. The couple moved to Saginaw, Mich., where they lived for 13 years. In 1945 her daughter, Sheila was born. The family then moved to Rockford where Thelma opened up her own shop. She operated it until 1947, when she developed health problems. She would then begin working with her husband at Crowell’s Auto Body where she ran errands and was the bookkeeper.  Thelma moved to the Nora Springs Care Center in 2005. She enjoyed her time there and developed many wonderful friendships with the staff and residents. She enjoyed playing games of 500 with the residents and playing the piano for all who would come to listen, until her final days.
Thelma graduated from the Saginaw School of Cosmetology and received her Michigan license on March 20, 1936. She also attended LaJames Beauty School and received her Iowa license on Aug. 15, 1939.
Thelma was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church. She was also involved in Chapter E.D. P.E.O., the Deborah and Miriam Circles and her Bible Study group. Thelma had a wide variety of interests.  She enjoyed sports, she and Blaine were avid golfers, and helped to organize the Rockford Golf and Country Club. She also was a fan of the Hawkeyes, the Vikings and the Twins. Thelma was also a great cook, her specialties being pies and Norwegian recipes. She loved to play the piano. Thelma was a very organized person, her house was always clean and she was always well dressed. She also believed in working hard to get things accomplished. She enjoyed going out to eat and then shopping with her granddaughter. She also had a special love for animals and wouldn’t turn away a stray. Most of all, she loved her family and the time she spent with them.
Those left to cherish her memory include her grandchildren, Ryan P. Riebe and Heidi J. (Tim) Dunderdale; son-in-law, Rolf Riebe; and, in November, she would have become a great-grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Blaine in 2002; daughter, Sheila G. Riebe in 2003; and her parents.