Gladah Elaine Thelen

       Gladah Elaine Thelen, age 87, of Fowler, MI, passed away Thursday, February 27, 2025, with her family by her side.
      A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, MI at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, with Rev. Fr. John Whitlock presiding. Burial will take place at a later date at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery, Fowler, MI. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 3, 2025, from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Goerge Chapel, Fowler, MI.
      Gladah was born in Sebewa, MI on February 19, 1938, the daughter of Francis and Lila (Weir) Lumbert. Gladah attended her grade school years in the small town of Sebewa, MI and later graduated from Portland High School. On August 16, 1958, she married the love of her life, Allen O. Thelen in Portland, MI. Allen passed away in June of 1987 and they spent 29 wonderful years together until his passing.
     She loved to play cards with her friends. Gladah enjoyed attending sporting events for her children and grandchildren 'Go Eagles'. Family vacations at the lake brought her great joy. Gladah worked at Potter's Park Zoo and enjoyed working there with other family members. Gladah's greatest love was being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She worked part-time as a cook and waitress at Miller's Tavern and Snack Shop in Fowler where she was often seen and 'heard'. She was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church Fowler, MI.
      Gladah is survived by her sons: Kirk Thelen and Kerry Thelen of Fowler, MI; Terry Thelen of Fowler, MI; son Tim (Bonehead) Thelen of St. Johns, MI; son Jeff and Kim Thelen of Fowler, MI; 7 grandchildren: Evan and Kelsey, Ashley and Trent, Chelsea and Trent, Joshua and Mackenzie, Dustin and Heather, Tyler and Jesse, also Travis and Amanda; 17 great-grandchildren; brothers: Cliff Lumbert of Sebewa, MI; Jerry Lumbert of Palo, MI; Bob and Dawn Lumbert of Mulliken, MI; Larry and Sandy Lumbert of Connecticut; sister Wendy and Lin Mater of Vermontville, MI; sister-in-law Martha Lumbert of DeWitt, MI; sisters-in-law:  Marilyn Halfmann, Diane Mussell and Joan Thelen; brothers-in-law:  Larry and June Thelen, Roy Thelen and Bill Chapko.  Gladah was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brother in infancy Wayne Floyd, brother Sonny and his wife Ellen, brother Jim, sister Jean and her partner Nancy, sister Cindy and her husband Dennis, father and mother-in-law Frank and Bernita Thelen, sisters and brothers-in-law Reynold Thelen, Francis and Deloris Thelen, Elaine and Albert Thelen, Janice Chapko, Joanne and Ron VanHeck, Charlie Halfmann, Duane Mussell, Merlene Lumbert, Michelle Lumbert and Burt Thelen.
     Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Goerge Chapel, Fowler, Michigan.