Dorothy J. Thies

Dorothy J. Thies
1926-2013
   STREATOR – Dorothy Jean Thies, 86, of rural Streator, died Wednesday, February 27, at Heritage Health of Streator, Illinois. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 4, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Streator, Illinois. The Interim Pastor Roger Hurlbut will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Winterrowd Funeral Home, Streator with an additional visitation on Monday from 10-11AM at the church.   Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.
   Pallbearers will be, Ralph Cole, Rob Tyne, Ron Thies, and Thies Truck Drivers, Ryan Klein, Randy Kreiser, and Robert Miller.
   Honorary Pallbearers include her “Secret Pal Club” members: Debbie Beutke, Laurie Cole, Margo Deats, Linda Simpson, and Vicki Walter; and close friends: Deb Derby, Jan Durre, and Darla Schmitt.
   Born April 7, 1926, in Fairfield, Illinois, she was the daughter of Henry and Ada Mozella (Potter) Edwards. She married Donald Dean Thies on June 15, 1946. They lived south of Streator, IL, where they farmed, raised cattle, and started Thies Trucking Company He preceded her in death on September 4, 1989.
   She is survived by a daughter, Debra (Bill) Meyers of Augusta, Georgia and a son, David (Kim) Thies of Streator, IL; two granddaughters: Michelle Thies of Edwardsville, IL and Amy Thies of Streator, IL; one brother, Bill (Norma) Edwards, Oconto, Wisconsin; and three sisters-in-law, Marcie Edwards of Wenona; Ruth Woerner of Peoria and Betty Shannon of Chicago along with several nieces and nephews.
   She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one brother; Donald Edwards.
    She grew up in Fairfield, Effingham & Long Point, IL. She attended schools at Long Point, IL graduating from Long Point High School in 1944. She attended the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois.
   Dorothy first worked in her father’s store in Long Point, IL, Edwards Grocery Store; she was employed for five years at Thatchers Glass Factory Streator, IL; was a thirteen year stay-at-home mom, and then worked as the elementary secretary at Woodland Community School Unit District # 5 rural Streator starting July 1 of 1963 until retiring from there June of 2005 after faithfully giving forty-two years of service. She also was co-owner and bookkeeper of Thies Trucking Company starting the company with her husband in 1963. Following her husband’s death, she along with her son continued operating the family trucking business
   She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Streator Elks Lodge BOP 591, the Long Point American Legion Auxiliary and Woodland PTO.
   Dorothy dearly loved her family, her friends, and Woodland School. She also enjoyed roller-skating in her younger years, dancing with her husband and listening to “Big Band” music. She also enjoyed dining out, mowing her large yard, driving her sport cars, working jigsaw puzzles, and crocheting. Dorothy loved life.
   She was one special lady that touched so many lives in the Woodland School and Streator community. She provided many donations not only to her church, but she also gave to numerous benefits/raffles in the Streatorland area. For the last several years she had provided many Woodland School second graders the opportunity to participate in the week long Streator YMCA “Swim-a-Rama” learning activity.
   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Streator, Illinois or the Woodland CUSD #5 Dorothy Thies Scholarship Fund.