Thelma J. (Tumilty) Frese, 21 Sep 1924 - 23 Feb 2022

FRESE, TUMILTY, BENESH, SCHULTE, BENNETT, WHITE, ARMSTRONG, SPICER, ROTTGER, HIMMELSBACH, HINKEL

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 3/2/2022 at 16:01:42

Thelma J. Frese, 97, of Watkins, Iowa, passed away Feb. 23, 2022, at Rose Haven Nursing Home, Marengo, Iowa.

Thelma was born Sept. 21, 1924, to James Earl and Mable Rosalie (Benesh) Tumilty on a farm South of Shellsburg. After moving with her family to four different farms during the depression years they ended up near Vinton, Iowa. Thelma graduated from Vinton High School in 1941 with a Normal Training Certificate, allowing her to teach school in Iowa for a period of two years.

Growing up in a large family, she often commented how she would wake up in the morning and there would be a new baby in the house. After graduating at only 16 years old, Thelma worked at a Shellsburg cafe and lived with her grandmother, Ethel Mae Tumilty. In 1942 Thelma started teaching at Mound Hill School House, near Watkins, where she taught grades first to eighth with at times only one child in a class. Two of her students Gerald (Yogi) Frese and Ben Himmelsbach would become her nephews as she married Delbert (Jack) Frese on her birthday, Sept. 21, 1944, at St. Michael's Church in Norway. Together the couple lived and operated a family farm northwest of Norway and were blessed with three sons. After 51 years of marriage, Delbert passed on Sept. 25, 1995. In 1999, Thelma and her son Dennis moved to a new home south of the home place.

Thelma worked hard with many years of cooking, cleaning and gardening. She enjoyed many bus trips and plane rides across the country. Most of all Thelma loved her grandchildren and always had a big Christmas party, the last in 2021. She was active in her faith as a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, Norway.

She is survived by her sons, Donald H. Frese of Fairfax, John E. (Linda) Frese of Amana and Dennis L. Frese of Watkins; eight grandchildren, Chris (Tracy Andes) Frese, Brian (Kym) Frese, Eric (Alisha) Frese, Tara (Justin) Schulte, Nate (Niki) Frese, Keli Lalla, Ashlee (Nic) Bennett and Cam Frese; 23 great-grandchildren, Kenadi, Kaylor, Kooper, Jackson, Cora, Enslee, Taitlyn, Rylee, Emerson, Jonathan, Connor, Skylar, Easton, Libi, Canaan, Bella, Jordyn, Maddux, Micah, Halle, Ryker, Greyson and Harlyn, one great-great-grandson on the way; three sisters, Irene White of Marion, Louise Armstrong of Atkins and Kaylene Spicer of Vinton; one brother, Kirk Tumilty of Shellsburg; and two sisters-in-law, Marlene and Shirley Tumilty.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mable; parents-in-law, Henry and Elizabeth (Schulte) Frese; husband, Delbert (1995); daughter-in-law, Cheryl Frese (2022); brothers, Raymond and Vernon Tumilty; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Pete White, Derrol Armstrong, Gene Spicer, Dorothy Tumilty, Elaine Tumilty, George and Mabel Frese, Charles and Elsie Frese, Arthur and Loretta Frese, Lucille and Aloise Rottger, Margaret and Leonard Himmelsbach, Armella and Ed Hinkel.

Family would like to thank Rose Haven Nursing Home, Essence of Life Hospice, and Dennis for their compassionate care.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Norway, with Fr. Craig Steimel officiating. Burial will take place at St. Michael's Cemetery in Norway. Visitation is 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.neuhasufuneralservice.com. Brosh Funeral Service of Norway is assisting the family.

Published in The Gazette on February 25, 2022.