- Thurner, Harriet
On a warm summer evening the angels wrapped their arms around our precious mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and carried her peacefully into the arms of Jesus. Harriet Valentyn Milton Thurner, 95, died Friday, July 24, 2009, at Parkside Care Center in Little Chute. She was born on Aug. 27, 1913, in Faribault, Minnesota, to the late Peter and Anne (Smits) Valentyn. At age 5 she moved with her parents and two younger brothers to Kimberly, Wisconsin, where three sisters and two more brothers would join the family. Harriet attended Holy Name School and graduated from eighth grade in 1927.
After graduation, she worked as housekeeper for Dr. Maes and his two sisters. She left her job to assist her mother after the birth of her brother, Robert Paul. Harriet became Robert Paul's Godmother. At the age of 16, Harriet worked as a housekeeper and nanny for Dr. and Mrs. Belinski. At age 18, Harriet began working in the old bag mill at Thilmany's. Harriet married Orile "Orie" Milton on July 30, 1936, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Kimberly. Together they owned and operated Milton's Grocery on Lawe St. in Kaukauna. Harriet operated the store with hired help while Orie served in the army during World War II. In 1958, Orie and Harriet purchased and operated East Shore Resort on Rolling Stone Lake until Orie's death on April 21, 1959. On Aug. 7, 1965, Harriet married Nicholas Thurner at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kaukauna. Nick preceded her in death on Dec. 4, 1998.
Harriet served as Juvenile Director before becoming President of the National Catholic Society of Foresters St. Ann Court 226 at Holy Cross in Kaukauna from 1963 until 1997. She was a member of the Ladies of Holy Name and Holy Name Parish in Kimberly for many years before becoming a member of St. John Nepomucene Parish in Little Chute. Harriet loved to play sheephead with her card club. But above all, Harriet was a loving, compassionate caregiver raising two young children on her own for six years before adding two stepchildren to raise. She cared for her father in her home after the death of her mother. When Alzheimer's disease crept in, she lovingly took care of her second husband until his death, visiting him daily when she could no longer keep him at home. Her three grandchildren were her pride and joy, and Grandma was the best baby sitter ever who made the most delicious chocolate chip cookies.
Harriet is survived by her son, Orile Milton and his wife Christine, Sturgeon Bay; her daughter, Dorothy Van Lith and her husband Harry, Little Chute; her stepdaughter, Lila Thurner, Kimberly; and her stepson, David Thurner and his wife Deborah, Appleton; three grandchildren: Jessica Milton, Sturgeon Bay; Scott Van Lith and his wife Bernadette, Greendale; and Erin Klapatauskas and her husband Clint, Freedom; and great-grandchild, Wesley Anthony Van Lith, born two days before Harriet's death. She is also survived by her sisters, Anne Valentyn and Elaine Hietpas, brothers, Robert (Althea) Valentyn and Donald (Audrey) Valentyn, brother-in-law Michael (Patricia) Milton, and sister-in-law Ethel (Louis) Wulterkens as well as members of the Thurner family, her friend and roommate Grace, and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her husbands and parents, Harriet was preceded in death by her brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law: Peter and Shellie Valentyn, Harry and Sis Valentyn, Marie and Herman De Leeuw, Fabian Hietpas, Gladys and John Diedrich, Eileen and Walter Wildenberg, Donald Milton, Cletus Milton and Elaine Welter, an infant brother Joseph, and members of the Thurner family.
Visitation will be held Tuesday July 28, 2009, at ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE CATHOLIC CHURCH (323 S. Pine St.) beginning at 3 p.m. until time of Mass at 5 p.m. The Rev. James Hablewitz will officiate. Committal Holy Cross Cemetery. For online condolences, please visit www.oconnellfuneral services.com.
The Family would like to thank Dr. Jack Meyer for his compassionate care of Harriet. To the staff of Parkside Care Center words cannot begin to express our gratitude for the loving care given to Harriet over the past two and a half years. You loved her during life and cared for her these past five days as if she was your own mother and grandmother and for that we will always hold you in our hearts and prayers. May God bless each and every one of you as continue care for the elderly.
O'CONNELL
FUNERAL HOME
201 E. Main Street
Little Chute 920-788-6237
Oconnellfuneral
services.com
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1913 - 2009 (95 years)
Obituary
