Obituary of Thelma L. Hand

Thelma L. Hand, 80 formerly of 1420 Oaklawn Avenue, Iowa City, presently living at 1500 1st Avenue in Coralville died Sunday, July 15, 2007, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. A celebration of life gathering will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, where visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Tuesday. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Thelma’s memory to the Iowa City Crisis Center. Online condolences may be sent through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. True to Thelma’s passion for learning, the love of the University of Iowa, and her wanting to help others, she has gifted her earthly remains to the University Of Iowa Department Of Anatomy. Thelma Lucille Wilson was born February 20, 1927, in Buchanan County, Iowa the daughter of John and Hattie (Gates) Wilson. Following graduation from high school in Rowley, Iowa she entered the workforce as a bookkeeper in a number of towns and cities before ending up in Iowa City in the early 1950’s. Here she was self-employed for a number of years before her employment with Sy Seydel Auto Service in 1958. Thelma worked here until 1970 when she became employed by the Breese Company of Iowa City. She then did bookkeeping privately for individuals, worked for Quality Office Products for a short period, and later retired from Hartwig Motors in Iowa City. If you knew Thelma, you knew she had many passions in life; they included her dearest friend, Katy Kruse whom she traveled many miles with. They would winter in Texas, summer out east, and spend all football season cheering the loudest of all Hawkeye Fans. She and Katy would tailgate in style, many Hawk fans could attest to this. She was a member of the Johnson County I-Club. Thelma loved family gatherings, and holidays. She also loved her three dogs, Trina, Rika, and Pfeffer, their children! Her family includes siblings, Delbert Wilson and his wife, Marie of Rowley, IA, Virginia McFarland and her husband, Burr of Ames, Leland Wilson and his wife, Madonna of Decorah, IA, and James Wilson and his wife, Leone of Whidbey Island, WA; 31 loving nieces and nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews. Her children of the heart, Kristina Corlette of Ft. Myers, FL; Jill Corlette of Indianapolis, IN; Gordon Corlette and his wife, Allison, and their son, Joseph of Coralville. She was preceded in death by her dearest Lifetime Friend, Katy Kruse; brothers, Duane, Lloyd, Lyle, and Ralph Wilson, and sister, Eileen Boelter. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Thelma’s family and her services.