Beatrice Thorpe

Beatrice "Bea" E. Thorpe, 78, of Kohler, passed away early on Monday morning, October 25, 2010 at the Sheboygan Progressive Health Center. Bea was born on November 23, 1931 in Ames, IA, daughter of Carl and Opal (Thomas) Briley. She was a 1949 graduate of Ames High School and received her Bachelors degree from Iowa State University in 1953 in Household Equipment Testing. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Social Sorority, Omicron Nu Honorary Sorority and The Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Sorority. On April 3, 1954 she married Lawrence R. Thorpe in Ames IA. Following graduation she worked as an engineering aide at General Electric Company in Schenectady, NY and the Convair Company in San Diego as an engineering technician. Bea was employed with Weber Marking Systems in Arlington Heights, IL for 17 years until her retirement in 1981. Following her retirement she assisted her husband in his business. She relocated to Kohler in 1995. Bea was a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Sheboygan where she was active in the Missions Committee. She also volunteered in the reading program at Kohler Public Schools. Bea enjoyed investing, reading nonfiction, traveling, cooking and dancing. Bea is survived by her husband Larry; one daughter, Nancy (David) Wright of Kohler; two sons, Richard (Judy) Thorpe of Tuscaloosa, AL and Robert Thorpe of Kohler; two grandchildren, Kelsey and Logan Wright; and a sister-in-law, Eleanor Buehler of Brandon, SD. Bea was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter-in-law, Debra Thorpe. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 1:30 pm at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Sheboygan with the Rev. Henry Verfuerth officiating. Burial will take place in Woodland Cemetery in Kohler. Relatives and friends may call at the Wenig Funeral Home in Sheboygan Falls on Wednesday from 5:00 until 7:00 pm and also at the church on Thursday from 12:30 pm until the time of the service at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Bea's name for St Luke Untied Methodist Church or the United Cerebral Palsy Association. For online condolences and additional information please visit www.wenigfuneralhome.com

Visitation

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wenig Funeral Home - Sheboygan Falls
711 Broadway Sheboygan Falls 53085, United States

Visitation

Thursday, October 28, 2010 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
St Luke United Methodist Church
623 Ontario Avenue Sheboygan 53081, United States

Service

Thursday, October 28, 2010 1:30 PM
St Luke United Methodist Church
623 Ontario Avenue Sheboygan 53081, United States