Thelma T. Stelly

MIDDLETON - Beloved Thelma Stelly, 88, died July 31, 2009, in Middleton, WI.  Born October 18, 1920, in Soldier, a picturesque western Iowa farming community of Norwegian immigrants, Thelma was John and Mathilda Olson Thoreson's eighth child of ten. In 1938, a relative invited her to Baton Rouge, LA, to study home economics at Louisiana State University (LSU). In 1940, the Iowa beauty married Matthias Stelly, a Ph.D. student from Sunset, LA, who had fallen in love with her at first sight. Thelma and Matt relocated to the University of Georgia in Athens for Matt's first academic position.   A 1952 sabbatical to Kenya sparked their interest in travel. Then in 1956, they moved back to LSU.   Five years later, Madison, WI, became home when Matt accepted an executive position with The American Society of Agronomy. After many years enjoying their Madison home, Thelma's husband of 58 years passed away.  A myriad of interests enriched Thelma's life: she sewed her girls' party dresses, tended peonies and poppies, cooked Cajun, enlivened blank canvases with her painting, refinished and upholstered weathered furniture, entertained with flair, mothered international students, and delighted in classes varying from Spanish to bridge to oil painting. Weekends Matt and Thelma enjoyed dancing to Big Bands, attending concerts, plays, college sports, and church. They relished travel, especially to international destinations.  Thelma's surviving family includes children Mary (William) Niedermeier of Madison, WI; Julia (Andre) Pernet of Lake Forest, IL; David (Linda) Stelly of College Station, TX; and Carol (Jeff) White of Verona, WI.; six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild; as well as a brother Bernard Thoreson (Elayne) of Soldier, IA. Family and friends will always cherish Thelma's smiles, energy, gentle manner and affectionate nature. To celebrate her life, family will gather this week in Madison, and later will travel to her Iowa hometown to be with extended family. Thelma's funeral will be in fall at the historic Grand Coteau, LA, church where she and Matt were married. She will rest next to him under the romantic Spanish-moss-laden live oaks of St. Charles Cemetery.  The family thanks the staffs of both Sterling House of Middleton and HospiceCare for tending lovingly to Thelma during her illness. Memorials to HospiceCare are appreciated. HospiceCare; 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy; Madison, WI