Thelma J. Stoakes of Michigan City, Indiana, passed away Sunday morning, Feb. 4th, 2024, at Franciscan Alliance hospital.  She was 97 years old.

Thelma was the daughter of Carl E. Swanson and Melinda Stripling Swanson,  born June 21st, 1926, on their farm near Lu Verne, Iowa.   She and her four siblings  attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade.  Growing up, she excelled at piano, flute, chorus, and sewing.  Thelma was valedictorian of her Lu Verne High School class, and then attended Hamilton School of Commerce in Mason City, Iowa.  

Her early jobs in Des Moines, Iowa and Cedar Rapids, Iowa were in service to WW2 home front workers and returning war veterans.  At the US Employment Service, shd helped place workers in war industries, and later to receive unemployment compensation.  At the Veterans Affairs office, her work helped returning veterans obtain further education, medical aid, and conversion of insurance policies.  Thelma became so proficient that upon leaving one particular job, her bosses replaced her with three people.

Thelma met her husband, William L Stoakes, at Bishop’s Cafeteria, a popular gathering place for young working people in Cedar Rapids.  They married on June 9th, 1951, in Lu Verne.  Shortly after, the couple moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where William began work as an electrical engineer at IT&T.  They raised a young family and Thelma devoted herself to enriching life for her three children. 

In 1968, the family moved to Michigan City, Indiana.  Thelma did income tax preparation work before enrolling in the Purdue North Central nursing program.  She completed the program and passed the state licensing exam to earn her RN designation in 1978, at age 52.  She worked in the newborn nursery at St. Anthony’s hospital before retiring in 1988.  Thelma was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Circle Club, and Prime Timers bridge club.  She enjoyed music, word puzzles, and fashion throughout her life.  She cared for husband William until his death in October 2002.

In Thelma’s later years, as she developed more health issues, she was cared for by her children Susan and Forrest in her home.  This was a precious time of love and connection.

She is survived by daughter Susan Bridges and her husband David Bridges of Lower Macungie PA, son Forrest Stoakes of Gaithersburg MD, son Carl Stoakes and his wife Geneva Lynn Reeves-Stoakes of Knoxville TN, sister Linda Dimmick and her husband Arden Dimmick of Hawarden IA, sister-in-law Aileen Swanson of Lu Verne IA, and nieces and nephews in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Colorado.

Thelma was preceded in death by brothers Howard and Merlyn Swanson of Lu Verne IA, sister Phyllis Swanson Schwarck of Union IA, her husband Glen Schwarck, and their son Mark Schwarck.

Visitation and funeral services will be held at Geisen-Carlisle Funeral Home in Michigan City, Indiana, on Monday February 12th. Visitation hours are 10 AM until noon, with services at noon.  Internment immediately following the services at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens in Michigan City.