Thornburg, Marcella Mae Shearer 1921-2014

THORNBURG, SHEARER, KIRK, SHARPS, HITCHCOCK, WU, FLOWERS, OTIS, CAMPBELL, JOHNSON, STUART, WILSON, BLYTHE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 11/13/2025 at 09:22:15

Marcella Mae Shearer Thornburg
1921-2014
Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin

FUNERAL HOME
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Prairie du Chien
118 N Wacouta Ave
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Marcella Mae Shearer Thornburg of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on January 6, 2014, following a brief illness. Marcella was born on December 16, 1921 in Chesapeake, West Virginia to Clyde Herbert and Ollie Mae (Kirk) Shearer. Marcella attended Morris Harvey College and worked as a chemist at Union Carbide Company.

Marcella married V. Duane Thornburg on August 11, 1950. They enjoyed a full and active life. After living in Des Moines, Iowa, they moved into the McGregor / Prairie du Chien area in 1956 as they fell in love with the beauty of the river and the bluffs and decided this was where they wanted to build their life together. She helped build the family business, Thornburg Funeral Homes (McGregor and Prairie du Chien and Lansing) and was very involved in the community events - including an active member of the Eastern Star, Jaycees, Woman's Civic Club, and the Prairie du Chien Country Club.

She and Duane enjoyed boating on the river, family road trips and relaxing at their home overlooking the Mississippi River. They enjoyed traveling to visit their family all across the United States.

After Duane's passing in June 2009, Marcella began an active travel circuit - splitting her time between Prairie du Chien, Danville, California and Gallatin, Tennessee, Toluca Lake, California, Huntington Beach, California and Parker, Arizona - spending time at each location every year visiting her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her passions include cooking, dancing, wine time and laughing. She practiced a positive living attitude, "one day at a time" and never let life's challenges dim her bright light. Even in her most recent illness, she showed her love for music and keeping those around her in high spirits. Marcella left a strong legacy and will be missed by all.

Marcella had a large and loving family that brought her the greatest joy. She leaves her four surviving children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren to carry on her legacy of life and love. She is survived by her children, Joanne (Paul) Venable Sharps of Danville, California, Denise (Stan) Hitchcock of Gallatin, Tennessee, Mary Jane Thornburg of Los Angeles, California, Mark (Brenda) Thornburg of Huntington Beach, California and Chia-Li Rosa Wu (adopted daughter in Taiwan); her grandchildren, Jeff (Joanna) Flowers, Kelly (Paul) Otis, Michael (Rosanna) Sharps, Michael (April) Campbell, Scott (Rachel) Hitchcock, Garret Thornburg, Marlana Thornburg and Tori Thornburg her great-grandchildren, Nicholas Flowers, Jake Flowers, Chelsey Otis, Chandler Otis, Alex Sharps and Mia Campbell; a brother-in-law, Dennis (Janis) Thornburg and many nieces and nephews. Also, her local close family, Kenny Johnson, Nancy and Bill Stuart and Jim and Terri Johnson. They were very involved in helping Marcella and Duane.

She was preceded to heaven by her husband of fifty-nine years, Virgil Duane Thornburg; her children, Henry Craig Thornburg and Tracy Nanette Thornburg; her grandson, Dennis Walker T. Hitchcock; her parents, Clyde Herbert and Ollie Mae (Kirk) Shearer; her sister, Hazel Blythe Wilson and brothers, James Ranch Blythe, James Clyde Shearer and Herbert Carmel Lee Shearer.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

A celebration of Marcella's life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at the Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

Inurnment will follow at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery, McGregor, Iowa.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by the Des Moines (IA) Register on Jan. 12, 2014.