Thelma Walz

Thelma Walz, daughter of Arthur and Henrietta (Rust) Winker, was born on July 21, 1918 in Carroll, Iowa. She was the oldest of ten children. Having lived through the depression era, she grew up not having much in the material sense. She was, however, given the gift of loving parents who taught her the values of faith and hard work. She graduated from St Angela's Academy in 1936. By far the greatest blessing in her life was to have been loved by and married to her husband Elmer Walz for 52 years. She was his blue eyed sweetheart. In April of 1942 she took the train by herself to New Hampshire to marry him on April 4 in the Army Chapel at Camp Langdon near Portsmouth, NH. She wore a practical suit instead of a flowing gown but couldn't have looked lovelier. Thelma worked for the phone company there and later in Carroll. She loved to sing, fish, dance and play bridge and cribbage. Thelma taught and modeled for her children the power of prayer, contentment, gratitude and family. In the past few years, as her memory began to fail, she had a harder time remembering facts and names. But she could always, when prompted, remember the names of her children, her siblings, the prayers said at daily Mass and the words to "Anytime" and "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" Thelma's husband died in 1994. She continued to live in Carroll until she moved to Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City 2006. She died there on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at the age of 96 years, 1 month and 12 days. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Lorraine Curran, Daryl Winker, Robert Winker, Donald Winker, Ruth Henney, Joseph Winker and Cletus Winker. She is survived by her seven children: John (Peggy) Walz of Peosta; Sr. Mary Walz of St Louis, MO; Tom Walz of Lakeville, MN; Greg Walz of Sioux City; Martha (Ed) Ruppert of Ames; Sarah (Grant) Kirksey of Westminster, CO and Carol (Roger) Harvey of Grimes; her grandchildren: Jeff (Holly), Mike, Tina, B (Julie), Michelle, Jacob, Sam, Ben (Anna), Alice, Lorin, Aaron, Isaac and Eli; great-grandchildren: Mitchell, Danielle, Michael (Hannah), Matthew, Mallory, Sara, Synthia, Skylar, Trevor, Gregory and Peyton; great great-grandchildren Kalub, Colton and Payson; her sisters Isabelle Hopfinger of Kansas City, MO and Therese Borden of West Des Moines; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Funeral Service Saturday, September 6, 2014, 10:00 AM Holy Spirit Church Carroll, Iowa Officiating Reverend Timothy Johnson Eucharistic Minister John Borden Lector Michelle Stefani Gift Bearers Thelma's Family Music "You Are Mine" "Shepard Me, O Lord" "Ave Maria" "On Eagle's Wings" "O Loving God" "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" Holy Spirit Choir Barb McDermott, Organist Casket Bearers Jeff Walz Mike Walz Mike Bennett Eli Harvey Sam Ruppert Mark Winker Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery Carroll, Iowa