Thelma Pahl

Thelma Pahl, age 88, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Sunday, October 11, 2009, at Wellington Place Nursing Home in Decorah, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, at the Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. Bryan Robertson presiding. Burial will be in the Locust Cemetery, Locust, Iowa. Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, and after 9:30 a.m. at the church on Wednesday morning. Thelma Bernadine (Johnson) Pahl, was born on October 7, 1921, the daughter of Ole and Gina (Bringsjord) Johnson in Decorah, Iowa. Thelma attended Decorah Community Schools and married Arnold Pahl on October 27, 1946, in Decorah. Thelma worked at Wapsie Produce, Deco Products and did volunteer work at the Decorah Lutheran Church. Thelma was always willing to help her friends by giving them rides to where they needed to go. Thelma enjoyed watching game shows on TV, giving people a hard time, joking with them and having coffee at the Bakery. She also helped clean for her brother, Donnie Johnson at the Silver Dollar. Thelma was a member of the Decorah Lutheran Church and ladies circle, and always was willing to help with the church newsletter and at the coffee hour crowd. Thelma is survived by her nine children: Trudy Gaffey, Decorah, IA; Kenneth Allen, Sarasota, FL; Sharon (Larry) Walter, El Paso, TX; Pam Pahl & special friend, Arlyn Moe, Decorah, IA; Arlin (Margaret) Pahl, Decorah, IA; Mike (Connie) Pahl, Ridgeway, IA; Deb Pahl, Decorah, IA; Dan (Becky) Pahl, Lime Springs, IA and Fred Pahl, Decorah, IA. Twelve grandchildren: Larry Gaffey, Jodi (Kendall) Groenewold, Angie (Todd) Meiners, Brian (Jewell) Pahl, Stacy (Rob) Engelhardt, Jarrad (Laurie) Walter, Teressa (Brandon) Kadlec, Angie (Lee) Lindstrom, Matt Vine, Joe Pahl, Jenny (John) Andrews and Jason Pahl. Fourteen great grandchildren: Maxwell & Elizabeth Gaffey; Kendra & Brady Groenewold, Alyssa, Tate & Thane Meiners, Hannah & Jordan Pahl, Lexie & Marissa Engelhardt, Kera & Davis Walter, Wyatt Lindstrom and special little friend, Lake LeBahn. Two brothers: Don (Shirley) Johnson, Decorah, IA and Merlin Johnson, Dubuque, IA. Three sisters: Evelyn Pierce, Decorah, IA; Gladys Herald, Freemont, NE and Frances Johnson, Waukon, IA, along with many nieces and nephews. Thelma was preceded in death by her parents: Ole and Gina (Bringsjord) Johnson. Her husband: Arnold Pahl on March 2, 1973. One grandson: Stephen Gaffey on May 10, 1981. One sister: Helen (Russell) Enyart. One sister-in-law: Mrs. Merlin (Shirley) Johnson. Three brothers-in-law: Vern Herald, Emmett Johnson and Merlin Pierce.