Obituary for Thelma M. Oberreuter
Thelma Oberreuter Danbury, Iowa - Thelma Oberreuter, 90, of Danbury, Iowa passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at Sunrise Retirement Community in Sioux City. The funeral Mass will be Monday, February 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury, Iowa with Rev. Dan Greving officiating. Burial will be in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church Sunday, February 16 after 3:00 p.m. with the Rosary by St. Mary's Rosary Society at 3:30 p.m. and a Vigil Wake service at 5:00 p.m. Visitation resumes Monday at the Church from 9:00 a.m. until Mass time. Armstrong Funeral Home of Danbury and Mapleton is in charge of the arrangements. The family is receiving condolences on line at www.armstrongfuneral.com. Thelma Marie (Motts) Oberreuter was born November 26, 1923, the daughter of Harry and Ora (Beith) Motts at Sioux City, Iowa. She started school at McKinnley Elementary and in grade 4 attended Cooper Elementary, always an above average student with consistent all A's in courtesy. She started Junior High at East where she excelled in orchestra, becoming an accomplished violinist. She was a lifelong music lover. Thelma graduated from East High School mid year, January 23, 1942. She furthered her education by completing a course of study of at National Business Training in Sioux City. She then put her skills to work at Swift and Company in Sioux City as an Executive Secretary for 15 years. Thelma was a survivor of the Swift explosion on December 14, 1949, known as the worst industrial accident in Sioux City that killed 20 of her co-workers. Thelma was united in marriage to John William "Jack" Oberreuter at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury, Iowa on July 28, 1956. The couple made their home in Danbury where Jack worked as a farmer. He passed away February 12, 1985, the exact same calendar day, 29 years earlier then Thelma's death. Thelma was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury along with St. Mary's Rosary Society. She volunteered at St. Mary's in multiple capacities including cleaning and accounting for the children's collection at church every week for many years. She was also a member of the Danbury Women's Club and was an assistant 4-H leader. In 1983, Thelma took on the responsibility of becoming the in-home baby sitter of Megan Armstrong and later Calvin Armstrong, children of Grant and Cindy Armstrong. She grew to be not only their caretaker but a significant role model and cherished member of the Armstrong family. Though time passed and the need for child care also passed, the respect, love, and enduring relationship between the Armstrongs and Thelma and her family has remained forever strong. Thelma always had a gift of good humor and wit, ready to try about anything except Bingo. She hated Bingo. At 64, following her husband's death, she studied, practiced, and earned her very first driver's license. She loved people and conversation, especially in the years she "went to town" in the morning for coffee and toast with her good friends. She was a fun loving long time dedicated fan of Mickey Mouse. As an animal advocate, she loved her two dogs, one Murphy, also known as "Tuckey" and the other, Poncho, as well as watching the squirrels in the feeder outside her window. She was a gifted seamstress in early years but continued to craft costumes for the Armstrong kids at Holloween or whenever a Danbury Corn Day Parade raised the need. She cherished the weekend get-a-ways with her family to Omaha, Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Chicago. She became a resident of Sunrise Retirement Community on August 1 of 2011, where she grew to care deeply for those that returned that care so generously to her. In 2012, she was crowned Valentine's Day Queen at Sunrise. Those family members left to embrace their loving memories of Thelma include her daughter Deb Oberreuter and Tony Medina of Sioux City and her son, Tom Oberreuter of Danbury; her only nephew in the Motts family, John Motts and his wife, Susan of Omaha; and many nieces and nephews in the Oberreuter family. Along with her husband, Jack; Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother and his wife, John and Meryle Motts.
Service:
Monday, February 17, 2014 11:00 a.m.
St. Mary's Catholic Church Danbury, Iowa
Visitation:
Sunday, February 16, 2014 After 3:00 p.m. Rosary by St. Mary's Rosary Society at 3:30 p.m.
St. Mary's Catholic Church Danbury, Iowa
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Service:
Monday, February 17, 2014 11:00 a.m.
St. Mary's Catholic Church Danbury, Iowa
Visitation:
Sunday, February 16, 2014 After 3:00 p.m. Rosary by St. Mary's Rosary Society at 3:30 p.m.
St. Mary's Catholic Church Danbury, Iowa
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