THUROW, Pauline Mae 1910-2004

THUROW, JOHNSON, WEST

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/19/2009 at 14:13:28

OSAGE, IOWA — Pauline Mae Thurow, 93, of Osage, died Sunday (Oct. 3, 2004) at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, 819 Main St. in Osage, with the Rev. Dr. J. Samuel Subramanian officiating. Inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Charles City. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Monday before the service in the church chapel. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa.

Pauline was born Dec 15, 1910, in Des Moines, the daughter of Charles Alva West and Hannah Naomi (Johnson) West. Pauline attended Monroe, Byron, and Rice Grade School and graduated from West High School, Des Moines, in January 1928.

In high school she was a member of the drama club and a member of First Federated Lutheran Church in Des Moines. Pauline was employed by Northwestern Bell in Des Moines, while completing night school in business machines until 1936, when she resigned to marry Frank Thurow, who operated the Dodge Plymouth Dealership in Osage.

The couple wed on Jan. 12, 1936, in Charles City, Iowa, at the home of his sister, Mrs. Harry O’Harrow. Pauline took charge of the bookkeeping and parts department at Thurow Motors until the business closed 35 years later. In 1964, she joined the Home Trust & Savings Bank as a teller and continued there until her retirement.

Pauline was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Osage. She was faithful in worship there throughout her lifetime. She worked as a member of United Methodist Women, where she held a treasurer position on the board, and was a member of the Christian’s Women Club.

She was also the founding treasurer for the Senior Citizen’s Center and she herself found great fellowship there later. Pauline enjoyed playing piano by ear, refinishing furniture and gardening. She delighted in nature, especially trees, flowers, dogs and cats. She was also an extraordinary seamstress for her family and friends. Pauline spent her last three years at Faith Lutheran Nursing Home.

She died in hospice care at North Iowa Hospice Center in Mason City following hip surgery at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa.

Pauline is survived by her two daughters, Corlene Higley of Tulsa, Okla.; and Judy Thurow of San Pedro, Calif.; two grandchildren, Ken Higley of Tulsa, Okla.; and Lynda Clements of Denver, Colo.; and five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Corlis; sisters, Lilian and Clare.

Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, is in charge of arrangements, (641) 423-0924.

[Mason City Globe Gazette]