Obituary for Pansy Evelyn Thaller
Pansy Evelyn (Chapman) Thaller, age 100, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at Masonic Pathways in Alma.
The world lost an incredible woman. A loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mother-in-law, friend, and neighbor. A devout Christian who navigated through life as a strong, positive, talented woman. She was a wonderful role model for the five generations of children and grandchildren who were her pride and joy.
Pansy was born on September 27th, 1922, in Merritt, Michigan to Earl and Rena (Wyma) Chapman. After her birth, the family moved to nearby Moddersville until Pansy was seven. Her family then moved to Mt. Pleasant. Years later, Pansy would spend her summers in Moddersville working hard on her grandparent’s dairy farm. This was truly her “happy place” during her teenage years.
Pansy lived in Mt. Pleasant at the north end of Kinny Street with her parents, brother and two sisters. She attended Mt. Pleasant High School and was part of the Class of 1941. Unfortunately, due to her poverty, she left school in 10th grade to find work to support herself and her family. Pansy went to work at the C.C. Lang Pickle Factory, she babysat and also did laundry for a mother of twelve. She had also worked at Bell Telephone in Pontiac. For many years, the Salvation Army provided their family with the only Christmas gifts they would receive.
Pansy eventually went to work at Ferro Manufacturing during the War. During this time, her brother Maurice was killed in action in Germany.
In 1945, Pansy married Edward Gordon and later married Louis Thaller in 1952. She and Louis owned and operated Thaller’s Eastside Sheet Metal next door to their Pickard Street home. Pansy worked at several stores in the Mt. Pleasant area. She was also a crossing guard for Mary McGuire School and served as a Sunday School teacher.
In 1967, they moved to their blueberry farm on Ferris Road in Riverdale where they happened to unearth a prehistoric mastodon while digging an irrigation pond. The skeleton was later donated to CMU.
In her retirement years, Pansy enjoyed seasonal trips to Florida with her husband Louis.
They were married for 43 years until Louis’s passing in 1995. She continued to enjoy volunteering at the Commission on Aging and attending church until she moved to Rosebush Manor and later to Masonic Pathways in Alma.
Pansy had many hobbies and interests over her lifetime. She was an excellent gardener as well as a wonderful cook. She was known by many for her homemade bread and delicious apple butter. Pansy had a special talent for writing poetry and composed many poems over her lifetime. She loved all animals and took great joy in feeding her wild birds. She raised parakeets, canaries, poodles and yorkshire terriers. She was a fan of the Detroit Tigers and was an avid bowler for over 50 years. In 2011, at age 89, she was inducted into the Mt. Pleasant Bowler Hall of Fame. Pansy was also a member of the Church of the Brethren.
Pansy is survived by her children, Tim Thaller of Mt. Pleasant, Linda (Bill) Wohlscheid of Mt. Pleasant, Louanna (Bill) Burch of Mt. Pleasant and Kathy (Jim) Murphy of Shepherd; 19 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren.
Pansy is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Louis; brother Maurice; sisters and brother-in-laws Waneta (Francis) Swan, Dorothy (Marvin) Benchley; son and daughter-in-law Terry (Marlene) Thaller Sr; grandson Patrick Thaller, and infant granddaughters Traci and Amy Wohlscheid.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Rosebush Manor and Masonic Pathways for their love and care for the past eight years.
Funeral services for Pansy will be held at Clark Family Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 11 a.m. with Steve Hoyle officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow in the Reflections Reception Center. Interment will be at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 15th, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army of Mt. Pleasant or Isabella County Commission on Aging. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel.
The world lost an incredible woman. A loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mother-in-law, friend, and neighbor. A devout Christian who navigated through life as a strong, positive, talented woman. She was a wonderful role model for the five generations of children and grandchildren who were her pride and joy.
Pansy was born on September 27th, 1922, in Merritt, Michigan to Earl and Rena (Wyma) Chapman. After her birth, the family moved to nearby Moddersville until Pansy was seven. Her family then moved to Mt. Pleasant. Years later, Pansy would spend her summers in Moddersville working hard on her grandparent’s dairy farm. This was truly her “happy place” during her teenage years.
Pansy lived in Mt. Pleasant at the north end of Kinny Street with her parents, brother and two sisters. She attended Mt. Pleasant High School and was part of the Class of 1941. Unfortunately, due to her poverty, she left school in 10th grade to find work to support herself and her family. Pansy went to work at the C.C. Lang Pickle Factory, she babysat and also did laundry for a mother of twelve. She had also worked at Bell Telephone in Pontiac. For many years, the Salvation Army provided their family with the only Christmas gifts they would receive.
Pansy eventually went to work at Ferro Manufacturing during the War. During this time, her brother Maurice was killed in action in Germany.
In 1945, Pansy married Edward Gordon and later married Louis Thaller in 1952. She and Louis owned and operated Thaller’s Eastside Sheet Metal next door to their Pickard Street home. Pansy worked at several stores in the Mt. Pleasant area. She was also a crossing guard for Mary McGuire School and served as a Sunday School teacher.
In 1967, they moved to their blueberry farm on Ferris Road in Riverdale where they happened to unearth a prehistoric mastodon while digging an irrigation pond. The skeleton was later donated to CMU.
In her retirement years, Pansy enjoyed seasonal trips to Florida with her husband Louis.
They were married for 43 years until Louis’s passing in 1995. She continued to enjoy volunteering at the Commission on Aging and attending church until she moved to Rosebush Manor and later to Masonic Pathways in Alma.
Pansy had many hobbies and interests over her lifetime. She was an excellent gardener as well as a wonderful cook. She was known by many for her homemade bread and delicious apple butter. Pansy had a special talent for writing poetry and composed many poems over her lifetime. She loved all animals and took great joy in feeding her wild birds. She raised parakeets, canaries, poodles and yorkshire terriers. She was a fan of the Detroit Tigers and was an avid bowler for over 50 years. In 2011, at age 89, she was inducted into the Mt. Pleasant Bowler Hall of Fame. Pansy was also a member of the Church of the Brethren.
Pansy is survived by her children, Tim Thaller of Mt. Pleasant, Linda (Bill) Wohlscheid of Mt. Pleasant, Louanna (Bill) Burch of Mt. Pleasant and Kathy (Jim) Murphy of Shepherd; 19 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren.
Pansy is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Louis; brother Maurice; sisters and brother-in-laws Waneta (Francis) Swan, Dorothy (Marvin) Benchley; son and daughter-in-law Terry (Marlene) Thaller Sr; grandson Patrick Thaller, and infant granddaughters Traci and Amy Wohlscheid.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Rosebush Manor and Masonic Pathways for their love and care for the past eight years.
Funeral services for Pansy will be held at Clark Family Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 11 a.m. with Steve Hoyle officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow in the Reflections Reception Center. Interment will be at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 15th, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army of Mt. Pleasant or Isabella County Commission on Aging. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel.