Delores Thomas (1935 – 2010)

Delores “Lory” Shirley Thomas, 75, passed away May 5, 2010 at her home.

Delores was the daughter of the late Herman Andrew and Alvina Rosalie (Schaefer) Breiling.

Delores attended St. Luke’s Ev. Lutheran Grade School, McKinley Jr High, and graduated from Mary D. Bradford high School in 1954. She also attended and graduated from Kenosha Vocational School in 1956 as a licensed cosmetologist, and in 1995 graduated from GTC with honors as a certified nursing assistant.

On November 10, 1956 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kenosha, Delores married Robert Reuben Thomas. Robert died January 26, 1995 after 38 years of marriage together they operated and later owned and operated the Robert Thomas Dairy Farm until the time of his death.

Delores was employed by Ivy Beauty Shop from 1954-1957, and Charm Beauty Salon from 1958-1960. She was also employed by the office of Mary Catherine Gerleman M.D. in Milwaukee in 1995. Delores drove school bus for Jelco in 1972-1973 for a short time. From 1988-1998 she was a school bus monitor for Jelco-Laidlaw Transit Inc. off and on when she could find time away from her busy life on the farm. In her younger years, she was a Sunday School teacher at St. Luke’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Kenosha and later at Faith Lutheran Church in Sturtevant. When her children were young she was also a 4-H Leader. Delores was also a charter member of Somers Volunteer Fire and Rescue Auxiliary serving as treasurer for three years.

Delores is survived by two sons Robert Carl Thomas and Glenn Richard (Carla) Thomas of Somers and one daughter Gail Marie (Larry) Schwaiger of Somers. She is also survived by ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Delores is further survived by one sister Eleanor E. (E. Lee) Hall of Kenosha.

Delores was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, four brothers The Rev. Edwin A. Breiling, Walter H. Breiling, SSgt Robert C. Breiling (POW WWII), and Franklin L. Breiling and two sisters Ruth E. Shavie and Dorothy M Herbek and one daughter Audrey Lynn Thomas.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday May 8, 2010 at 11:00AM at St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenosha (6700 30th Avenue). Visitation with the family will be on Saturday at the church from 9:30AM until the time of services. Burial will take place at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the church would be appreciated.