Obit: Paff, Lucretia (1921 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Paff, Graham, Huls, Meyers, Dorvinen, Tollefson, Heidtke, McClintick, Wolfmeyer, Sikac, Huey, Sopiarz

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 6/05/2013

Paff, Lucretia (29 March 1921 - 30 May 2013)

Lucretia (Huls) Paff, 92, of Thorp, WI, passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2013, at Oakbrook Health & Rehab in Thorp.

She was born March 29, 1921, in Thorp, to Henry and Hazel (Graham) Huls. She graduated from Thorp High School in 1939 and went to work at the Blue Moon Cheese Factory. It was there she met John J. Paff, who she married on February 14, 1943, in his hometown of Elk Mound. She worked through the war years, and briefly in St. Louis, MO, where John was reassigned after serving in the Pacific.

They settled in Thorp, and had six children. Cretia returned to work in the 1960s, driving a school bus, working at the Thorp Courier and helping at the school playground. She was passionate about singing, working with children and public speaking. She taught Sunday school and sang in the choir at Thorp United Methodist Church, was a state officer for United Methodist Women, and presented programs at 77 different churches throughout Wisconsin.

She was known for her animated personality and creativity, developing imaginative Vacation Bible School programs each summer, doing Valentine’s Day singing telegrams at the Thorp Care Center and reading to children at the Thorp schools.

She is survived by her six children, including: Lyn (Rik) Meyers of Nevis, MN, Eric Todd of Thorp, Brian (Diane) of Waukesha, Martha (Gary) Dorvinen of Thorp, Ann (Dan) Tollefson of Plymouth, MN, and Janet (Rick) Heidtke of Cadott; grandchildren: Lisa (Bob) McClintick of St. Cloud, MN, Sherri Wolfmeyer (John Sikac) of Mukwonago, Shawn (Katie) Paff of Mukwonago, Joy and Jessica Dorvinen of Phoenix, AZ, Whitney (Mike) Huey of St. Cloud, MN, Sarah Sopiarz of Chippewa Falls, and Sadie Sopiarz of Thorp, and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John, in 1990; also with her sisters and brother: Eunice, Jane and Bill.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2013, at Thorp United Methodist Church. Visitation will be take place starting at 10:00 a.m. before the service. A luncheon will follow at noon at the Thorp American Legion. The family requests that memorials be given to Thorp United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 354, Thorp, WI 54771.