Thelma O'Day

THELMA FLORENCE EDLEN O'DAY

Thelma Florence Edlen O'Day, age 90, of Kahoka, MO, died peacefully Saturday,
October 19, 2013 in the Clark Co. Nursing Home in Kahoka, MO.

Thelma was born May 7, 1923, a twin daughter of Clyde Newton and Florence Iona Soper Edlen.

She and Donald Mac O'Day were married September 6, 1942 at the Kahoka Christian Church parsonage by Rev. Claude Risinger.

Survivors include a daughter, Karen (Mrs. Dale) Schlicher of Farmington, IA; two sons, Paul (Barbara) O'Day of Kahoka, MO and Ross (Kathy) O'Day of Farmington, IA; seven grandchildren: Stacy (Chris) Schlicher of Donnellson, IA, Corey (Ludy) Schlicher of Farmington, IA, Michael (Anna) O'Day of South Lake, TX, Amy O'Day of Winter Garden, FL, Kristi (Mrs. David) Bruner of Kirksville, MO, Clint (Tami) O'Day of Oskaloosa, IA, and Kaci (Mrs. Jesse) Goldstein of Ankeny, IA; great-grandchildren: Frankie Schlicher, Paige Barker, Nadia Schlicher, Justice Schlicher, Rachel, Adam, and Zac O'Day, Skyler Alderton, Brooke Salyer, Kaitlyn, Andrew and Brant O'Day, and Connor, Kayli and Cam Goldstein; three great-great grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, Harold Edlen and Howard "Joe" Edlen, and her twin, Velma "Tiny" Fishback.

Thelma graduated from Revere High School in 1941 and attended Kirksville College for two summers to be a teacher. She taught in a one-room school house in Jordan for three to four years riding her horse daily. She started farming with her husband milking cows, raising chickens, and driving tractors. She loved working and instilled hard working values in her family. She had a love of community and sat up many a night with a sick family member or friend and would be the first to bring them a pan of sweet rolls or beef and noodles. Workers loved coming to her house during hay season for her fabulous meals and homemade ice cream.

Her faith was a very important part of her life as she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and then was later baptized in the summer of 1938 in the Des Moines River by Rev. Myrtle Dawson of the Peaksville Christian Church. She was a former member of the Peaksville Church, Revere Community Church, Anson Church, and in 2004 became a member of the Amazing Grace Bible Church. She loved going to church and attending Bible study.

Thelma enjoyed walking, growing beautiful flowers, crocheting, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals. She was a volunteer blood donor and had donated almost 20 gallons of blood to the Red Cross. She and her twin sister, Tiny, wrote letters weekly to each other for over 60 years. Family was very important to her and it was equally as important to remember her loved ones that had passed on and she would take a carload of flowers to decorate their graves and wanted that tradition carried on. She was proudest of her children and grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday, October 24, 2013, at 10 a.m. at Wilson Funeral Home with Jared McAfee officiating. Burial was in the Kahoka Cemetery.

Memorials in lieu of flowers were suggested to the Amazing Grace Bible Church or the Donor's choice.

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