Thelma Linnea Pokorny, 91, of Burwell passed away on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the CHI St. Francis Skilled Care in Grand Island.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at the Ord Memorial Chapel. Pastor Tom Burkholder will officiate. Burial will be in the Ord City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the service time. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Ord Fire and Rescue Department and CHI St. Francis Foundation. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements (www.ordmemorialchapel.com).
Thelma Linnea Pokorny was born April 28, 1932, to Gilbert and Alma (Anderson) Bloomquist. Thelma was the oldest of five children and was born in a log cabin (East Colville) Grand Marais, Minnesota. Thelma spent most of her childhood in the Superior National Forest, two miles from the shores of Beautiful Lake Superior near the Canadian Border.
Thelma started “playing“ teacher as soon as she could talk. She would have her brothers and sister sit, she would read, do writing, math and penmanship. Thelma recalled walking 3/4 of a mile to the county road to ride the school bus in inclement weather or to see a bear, deer, fox, coyotes or moose on the way to Grand Marais where she attended Grades 1-12 in the 1940’s.
In 1950, Thelma attended Mankato State College. She worked her way through college as a nanny, for room and board; and worked in a restaurant in the summers for her tuition. Thelma Graduated College in 1954.
Thelma turned “playing” teacher into a passion for teaching. She started her teaching career in Minnesota; later, moving to Winner, South Dakota. While teaching she met and married Herman Shipman from this union, she was blessed with three children, Stephen, Vicky and Linette. After Herman’s passing, Thelma continued her teaching career at Sheldon Iowa, where she met Richard “Dick” Pokorny and they were married October 29, 1966. Richard proudly adopted Thelma’s three children and they added a little sister, Karen Jo to the blended family.
Richard and Thelma purchased farm ground in Valley County. Thelma continued to teach in the area until she was 70 years old.
She is a member of the NEA-NSEA. Thelma enjoyed reading, and comprehending information to share with friends and family. She was “A LIFE LONG LEARNER”.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Stephen Pokorny of Burwell; daughters, Vicky and Bryan Gudenrath, of Edmond, Oklahoma, Linette and Doug Molczyk of Columbus, and Karen Jo Bredthauer (Scott Bredthauer) of Grand Island; grandchildren, Chelsy Shipman, Linsey Gudenrath, Jason (Aimee) Trotter, Caitlin (NJ Jayaramu) Molczyk, and Trenton-Lilliane Molczyk; great-grandchildren, Grayson and Catherine Shipman, Annie, Ellie, and Jennie Trotter; a sister, Shirley Kokal-McElevey and Charlie of Washington; and two brothers sisters-in-law, George and Florence Bloomquist, John and Carol Bloomquist and Sharon Bloomquist all of Grand Marais, Minnesota. Survivors also include Richard’s family, Herman Pokorny of Scotia, Dorothy Dexter of Chambers, Ralph and Diana Pokorny of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, Foster Pokorny of Kiowa, Colorado, Elizabeth Little of Omaha, Linda and Randy Homan of Louisville, Dennis and Karen Pokorny of Bartlett, and Steve and Susan Pokorny of Lander, Wyoming; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard “Dick” of 55 years, a brother, David Bloomquist; a sister-in-law, Rose Pokorny; a brother-in-law, Grant Kokal; and a baby brother (3 days old), Lennart.
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