Obituary of Dorothy Thalacker

Dorothy Elizabeth Thalacker, 90, of Wisconsin Rapids and Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, died Sunday, September 16, 2012, in Fond du Lac. Dorothy was born July 22, 1922, in Wisconsin Rapids to Eliese and William Rickman. She married Harold W. Thalacker on April 23, 1942. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM Tuesday, October 9, 2012, at Grace Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids, the Rev. Kent Raddatz presiding. Respects may be paid to the family from 10:00 AM to the time of service. Private interment will follow on October 10, 2012, in Harrisville. Dorothy attended Immanuel Lutheran Grade School before her family moved from Wisconsin Rapids to La Crosse, Wisconsin. She graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1939. For a year, Dorothy attended what was to become the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and her family moved back to Wisconsin Rapids upon her father's retirement. Active in her youth group at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dorothy was given a ride home from a youth gathering by the man with whom she fell in love and later married. Harold became her life partner for 66 years and was the love of her life. She worked as a legal secretary, customer service clerk at Johnson Hills department store and a secretary at Pre-Way Inc. For over a decade, Harold was a municipal judge and Dorothy served as his secretary throughout his tenure. Dorothy also attended Madison Business College and was a partner in Thal-Acres Realty for 35 years with Harold. They lived on, and developed, a 40-acre subdivision in the Town of Grand Rapids that was a portion of the Thalacker family farm. Harold and Dorothy were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church and St. Luke's Lutheran Church. They helped to organize, and were charter members of, Grace Lutheran Church, which was established in 1983. At Grace, they assisted in building and developing the physical structure, and served as members on the church board and various committees. Dorothy also served on the Mission Board of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Dorothy believed in giving to the community and was a Girl Scout Leader, Sunday School teacher, and an active member of the elementary school Mother?s Club. She served on the Town of Grand Rapids Election Board and the Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary for many years, and provided food and clothing to numerous families who needed a helping hand. Her friends and family enjoyed her wonderful mind, her strong personality, her firm faith, and her tender heart. After her commitment to her Christian faith, her family was the center of her life. Survivors include her daughters, Barbara (Terry Reed) of Sacramento, California, Bonnie (the Rev. Peter) Raquet of Mound Minnesota; her sons, Brian (Paula) of Fond du Lac, the Rev. Bruce (Janet) of Rapid City, South Dakota, and the Rev. Brent (Susan) of Fairfax Station, Virginia; 12 grandchildren, Rebecca (Donald) Morrison, Sara (Kile) Turner, Kate (Cody) Schmidt, the Rev. Scott(Lindsay)Thalacker, Dan (Genny) Beaman, Greg Beaman, Alex Thalacker, Megan(Anthony)Dunham, Leslie Laursen, Jerianne (John Santin) Gerloff, Mark (Tristen Arce) Shumway, and Geoff Shumway; 14 great-grandchildren; her sister, Ruth Rotermund (Arnold), of Wisconsin Rapids; and 29 nieces and nephews, all of whom brought great joy to her life. Dorothy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold, her parents, and her brother the Rev. Dr. Victor C. Rickman (and sister-in-law Florence). Memorials may be given to Grace Lutheran Church, Wisconsin Rapids, or to the Alzheimer?s Foundation.