Marian Thornton

Marian Minnie Thornton age 78 of Castalia, Iowa died Monday, November 26, 2012, at the Franciscan Skemp Hospital in LaCrosse, WI. A Celebration of Life service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 3, 2012, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia, IA. Private family interment will take place at the Pleasant View Cemetery, in Castalia. Friends may greet the family beginning at 9:00 a.m. Monday, December 3, 2012, at the Zion Lutheran Church. Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for Marian’s family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com Marian Minnie Thornton was born August 25, 1934, in rural Castalia, IA, the daughter of Louis and Minnie (Hanke) Martens. She was the youngest of nine children. She was confirmed in Frankville, IA, and attended rural country school there as well. On August 11, 1951, she was united in marriage to Lloyd Thornton in Elgin, IA. To this union three children were born, Rick, Kathy and Terri. After retiring from working for several years at Monona Wire and the Hi-Way Lanes in Postville, she and Lloyd spent seven years traveling until settling in their Castalia home. Throughout the years, Marian enjoyed crocheting for others, arts and crafts, camping, fishing, bowling and word-search books. Marian also enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs and had a love for birds, especially hummingbirds. Above all she cherished spending time with her family, especially the love of her life, Lloyd. Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Lloyd; one son, Rick Thornton of Decorah; one daughter, Kathy (Larry) Brockway of Castalia; a son-in-law, Don McKee of Manchester; seven grandchildren, Travis and Ross Thornton, Jodi (Kendall) Ney, Brandi (Cory) McGee, Lisa (Russell) Tieskotter, Brett and Kim McKee; eleven great-grandchildren, Tanner Brockway, Olivia, Hannah, and Sadie McGee, Owen, Brody, and Hayden Tieskotter, Alexis, Annalesia, Jacob, and Blake McKee; one sister, Eilleen Klein of Cedar Rapids; one brother-in-law, Curt (Cheryl) Thornton; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Terri McKee; three sisters, Ruth (Lawrence) Klein, Mildred (Bob) Krousie and Shirley (Bob) Marsden; four brothers, Harlen (Eva) Martens, Milton Martens, Vernon Martens, Calvin (Bernice) Martens; two brothers-in-law, Donnie Klein and Leo Thornton; her mother and father-in-law, Vern and Blanche Thornton.