Thelma Rhem

Thelma Goldie (Mott) Rhem passed away at the age of 97, Monday July 1st, 2019. She was was born on March 7th 1922 in Barry County, Michigan the daughter of Russell and Blanche (Clark) Mott. Thelma was a single mom raising her son Peter alone and working at a paper mill in Parchment until she married Gerry Rhem. They built a home in Kalamazoo, MI. Eventually they would go south to Florida every winter where other relatives lived and then return to Sandy Pines in Michigan to spend the summer. Thelma loved to sew and made many of her own clothes plus quilts for family and friends. She also did knitting and crocheting , even up to her death! She enjoyed life and had that "Mott laugh" that we all knew and loved. She also loved cats and had a female named "Buffy" who was with her in assisted living until she passed. She was preceded in death by her parents Russell William Mott and Blanche Lucille (Clark) Mott, her only child, Peter Edward (Gail) Petersen, her siblings Lavera Fern(Maurice) Johncock, Reva Ione (Merrill) Evans, Elvert Wilson (Kathryn) Mott, and Merlyn Clara (Gordon) Duisterhof. She is survived by her sister, Marjorie (Robert) Willbur, grandchildren Ric (Tracey) Petersen of Portage, Brian (Dawn) Huffstutter of Washington, Ben (Lisa) Petersen and Lindsay (Wayne) Kinard of Arizona, step-granddaughters Marisa Campbell of Arizona and Abby (Guy) Santek of Galesburg along with several great grand children and nieces and nephews A special thank you goes to Peggy Sprinkle for faithfully coming to visit and help care for Thelma. There will be no funeral, but you can contact her niece about a possible informal gathering later this summer for those who would like to share their memories about Thelma. Call Barb (Evans) Knoll at: bknollcnm@gmail.com