Thelma Josephine Simmer

Thelma Simmer, 92, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, at Spectrum Health Continuing Care Hospital in Grand Rapids. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 22, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Loren Kalinowski presiding and Deacon Larry Fussman assisting. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Beal City. The family will receive friends at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with the Vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation continues at the church on Monday one hour prior to Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Michigan Right To Life, Sacred Heart Parish, or Central Michigan Pregnancy Services. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Thelma was born Sept. 26, 1918, in Beal City, daughter of the late John and Lavina (Bengal) Elias. A graduate of Beal City High School in 1936, Thelma attended Central Normal School. She married Wendel Simmer on July 7, 1943, at St. Philomena in Beal City. Her work career spanned jobs at the Department of Agriculture, Isabella Bank, Leonard Pipeline, and Mutual Savings and Loan from which she retired in 1981. She was a devoted member of Sacred Heart Parish where she served on many committees including funeral luncheons, Parish Festivals, and preparation of the altar linens. She was also a former member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Beal City. She served on the Catholic Daughters while at both Beal City and Sacred Heart and was bestowed the honor of Mother of the Year in 2010. She also volunteered her time with Central Michigan Right To Life, CUF, ENDOW, the Ladies Auxiliaries at Central Michigan Community Hospital and Medical Care Facility, and was a volunteer of the month at the Commission on Aging where she volunteered for 10 years. Thelma was a devout Catholic Christian. Besides her loving family, her love of faith was very important to her. Thelma is survived by four children, Don (Nancy) Simmer of Montevallo, AL, Stan (Cathy) Simmer of Grand Haven, Karen (Elton) Petoskey of Mt. Pleasant, and John (Melodie) Simmer of Grand Haven; seven grandchildren, John and Christine, Kristin and Katie, Suzi, and Josh and Justin; five great-grandchildren; and brother, Gilbert Elias of Okemos. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wendel Simmer in 1972; infant brother, Hubert Elias; brother, Walter Elias; three infant sisters, Martha, Marjorie and Marguerite Elias; sister, Betty Tilmann; and sister-in-law, Mary Lou Elias.