Emma Gengler Thilges 1912-2006

THILGES, GENGLER, MERGEN, SCHLAPIA, EICHEN, HILBERT, RYAN, PRATT

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 4/27/2007 at 10:26:26

West Bend Journal; West Bend, Iowa; Thursday, March 23, 1996; page 2

Emma Jean Thilges, 93
1912-2006

Emma Thilges, age 93, of Algona, died on Saturday, March 18, 2006 at the Algona Manor Care Center. Mass of the Resurrection will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 23 at St. Cecelia's Catholic Church in Algona with burial in the West Bend Cemetery. Visitation was 5:30-8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Wilson Funeral Home in Algona with a 6:30 p.m. Rosary and a 7:00 p.m. Scripture Service.

Emma Jean Gengler was born to Michael and Josephine (Mergen) Gengler, on the Gengler family farm in Whittemore, Iowa, on September 19, 1912. She attended parochial school in Whittemore. On March 1, 1938 Emma was united in marriage with Emil Thilges at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Whittemore. They moved to the West Bend area and farmed for over forty years. They retired to Algona in 1973. She was a member of St. Cecelia's Catholic Church in Algona. Emma enjoyed gardening, yard work, home decorating, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Mrs. Thilges is survived by two daughters, Mary Schalpia and her husband Dean of Algona, and Bette Eichen and her husband Gerald of Columbus, Indiana; two sons, Michael Thilges and his wife Dixie of Foster City, California, and Lloyd Thilges of West Bend; nine grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers, George, Nick and Bill Gengler, and five sisters, Anna Gengler, Josephine Hilbert, Kathryn Ryan, Cecelia Pratt and Sister Mary Junilla.