Claire Elizabeth (Dufek) Thorstad, was born August 19th, 1935 in Minneapolis, MN to Elsie(Dufek) and Frank Wilhardt. Her mom died in childbirth and she was lifted and later on adopted by her aunt and uncle, Florence(Mick) & Peter Dufek and lived most of her lifetime in Duluth. She graduated from Denfeld High College in 1953. She labored for the previous American Linen Offer and around 29 many years as secretary in the H2o & Fuel Division, the final eighteen many years as secretary to the Director. She was awarded Staff of the Thirty day period for town workers, in March 1993, which created her very happy. She retired from Water & Gasoline in 1996. She died unexpectedly the morning of January 1, 2023, at Edgewood Vista Assisted Dwelling, Hermantown, MN. She was 87 years young.
She is preceded in loss of life by both of those her organic and adopted moms and dads, her sister June Lehman, and brothers Robert Dufek and Don Dufek.
She is survived by two daughters, Janet (Dudley) Blank, Cedarburg, WI Catherine (Dan) Tokheim, Swea Town, IA and son, Mick (Tess) Thorstad, Duluth brother, Jerry (Tracy) Wilhardt, Chandler, AZ sister Nancy Bell, Scottsdale, AZ 4 granddaughters, Audrey Thorstad, Jenny (Micah) Tokheim Hubbard, Erica (Stephen Hawkinson) Blank, Megan (Suleiman) Ameh, and a person grandson, Peter Thorstad. Excellent-grandchildren, Ojima Enger Tokheim Ameh and Daniel Glenn Tokheim Hubbard. Stage-grandchildren, Steve Blank, Jocelyn Gehrke and Jeff Blank Stage wonderful-grandchildren, Tela Gehrke, Gretchen Gehrke, Kenzie Gehrke, Ian Blank, Ingrid Blank and Arya Blank. Niece, Susan Bodine, nephews, Donald Lehman, Jeffrey Lehman, Daniel Dufek, Patrick Dufek, and many excellent-nieces and nephews. No one particular expected Mother to live so extensive.
A good deal of persons should have imagined she would not stay at all. Most preemies in 1935 died, particularly when they were 4 ½ pounds at start. But a medical center incubator, moreover the enjoy of relatives pulled her through. She was so little that they referred to as her “Peanuts”, a nickname she carried all as a result of her lifetime, however the quantity of people today who knew her that way became smaller and scaled-down.
Mainly because she survived, she touched a whole lot of lives, down to a few succeeding generations. Since she was cherished and picked out by her adoptive family members, her comprehension of relatives was broad and not outlined by blood on your own, but by presence. It included lifelong friends and coworkers from all levels of the Water and Fuel Division. It arrived at down the generations, and formed how we recognize relatives.
Mom touched a lot of life for great. The planet was improved simply because she survived and raised a spouse and children and labored faithfully at her career and moved between us, in spite of hardships, ache and wrestle.
George Bailey (“It’s a Fantastic Life”) experienced absolutely nothing on her.
Mother cherished her relatives and mates with all her coronary heart. Her family members was all the things to her. Mother beloved every a person of us unreservedly, cheering us on in our content occasions and encouraging us by means of the tough patches of lifetime. She often wanted to listen to what we ended up about. We liked her fiercely in return, by her case in point, loving as we were being cherished.
Grandma was the head of our family members, and she took that function extremely very seriously by internet hosting relatives gatherings that were comprehensive of stories and laughter, her mouth watering desserts, mouth-watering dinners, cable Tv(!) for the grandkids, and toys for the grand-pups. It was during these exclusive times at Grandma’s household that her grandkids soaked up all her knowledge, family history, and community myths that she carried with her above the years. We did not realize it then, but it was these moments that we realized the most critical lesson she required to instill: it is through the adore and assist of mates and family members that nearly anything is probable.
As a good friend, mother, grandmother and wonderful-grandmother, Grandma was fiercely-loving and extended-remembering. She was often completely ready with a fantastic tale, guidance, and a chortle. Duluth was her dwelling, and she was a very pleased citizen of her city. No words can capture all she was to those people who liked her most and have been lucky enough to be beloved by her in return.
Grandma has prolonged been a beloved element of our household lore. By that, I imply that it appears like each individual one of us has our beloved tales about “mom”, or “grandma”, or no matter what other title you know her as, and we notify them often. This would seem to me to be proof of a huge existence lived, and the depth and influence of her associations. Going ahead without the need of her is unbelievably challenging, uncharted territory, but we have been gifted with a wealth of memories, and of course, a great deal of sage terms of wisdom from Grandma, to attract on.
When you eliminate someone so courageous, it feels difficult to know how to go ahead without their bravery and permanence. Grandma created herself into a complete earth for our family, holding us together and liked and remembered. She stored up with us so very well. I feel the factors we’ll skip most are the components of her she quickly shared and hoped to move on: her curiosity, accountability, appreciate of story, laughter, wit, resilience, and appreciate. She knew us and loved us powerfully. We’ll remember her usually.
An announcement with the facts of her memorial accumulating will be printed for a summer months day. All close friends and family are invited to show up at.