Thelma Katherine Wigstad Walczyk, Oct. 26, 1926 – Dec. 10, 2024 — you read that right, 98 years of life.
Grab a cup and sit back, Thelma’s done a lot in that time. Not the least of which was sharing her light and love with everyone.
This obituary may take a while to read.
Thelma was born in Aberdeen to Ingrid Thorsdatter Wigstad and George (Guttorm) Wigstad. She lived in the same house on Arnold Street for nearly her entire life. In 2015 she moved to Olympia.
Thelma graduated with the Weatherwax High School’s class of ’44. In high school she was involved in various groups and enjoyed spending time with her future sister-in-law Ruby Louthan Walczyk and future cousin Nita Ayres. After high school she went to work for the telephone company.
Thelma was introduced to Frank Floyd Walczyk at a dance. They married on March 31, 1951 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. Thelma was an only child. Frank had 2 brothers and 8 sisters. She was very excited to have lots of siblings-in-law.
Together, Thelma and Frank raised four children. In the early 1970s, Thelma went to Grays Harbor Community College to earn her Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) certification. Certificate in hand, she left behind the ding-donging days of an Avon lady and went to work, first at St. Joseph’s hospital, then ultimately was hired as the Company Nurse at ITT Rayonier in Hoquiam where she worked until retiring in 1985.
Before Frank’s passing in January 2000, he and Thelma enjoyed traveling. They enjoyed trips around the U.S. and abroad. In 1977, after convincing Frank that she “needed to go before she died” she, her cousin Helen Caldwell and daughters Fran and Ingrid traveled to Skjak, Norway to visit relatives on the family farm. It was quite a trip. She returned to Norway 2 more times – well before passing.
Being a part of the Walczyk family was something Thelma truly cherished, being embraced by this large Polish family. Her Norwegian roots were also important. She was an only child but had relatives in Aberdeen and Central Valley/Bremerton. The family often traveled to hang out with the “Bremerton Crew” where the kids spent time with cousins, riding horses, playing and celebrating the 4th of July.
She was a proud Sons of Norway member. She enjoyed making lefse and had the title of “Official Lefse Turner.” She enjoyed eating lefse too, but did not want anything to do with Lutefisk — the memory of the smell of the lutefisk when her dad prepared it was just too much — Uff da!
Thelma loved to swim and to sing. Those passions were combined when she joined the Aqua Notes, a group from Hoquiam that originally came together to raise money to keep the Hoquiam pool open. She was there often for the water aerobics class. Sadly, the Hoquiam pool closed, but the group of friends continued to sing at senior centers around the county.
When she moved to Olympia, she tagged along with her dear friend Barb Ayres to the Tumwater Senior Center to join another singing group. Here too she found a wonderful group of friends. Other hobbies included daily journaling, reading (a lot), knitting, painting wood crafts that Frank had made in his woodshop, watching General Hospital (yes, it’s still on TV), and crafting meals out of “whatever’s in the cupboard.”
Over the years she also enjoyed watching her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s events; school plays, sporting events, dance recitals, graduations and retirements.
Thelma recently celebrated her 98th birthday. How’d she do it? Well, there’s those original hardy Norwegian parts, plus a mantra of “Use It or Lose It.” She was in the pool 3 days a week doing water aerobics, walked daily — always included the stairs, ate lots of fruits and veggies and did crossword puzzles daily, in ink.
She did crosswords, but never used cross words. Thelma treated everyone with respect and love, right up to the end. Her caregivers at Mother Joseph Care Center were always happy to work with mom, as she always shared a smile and made of point of learning their name. She usually tried to send them off with a treat — there were always York peppermints and chocolate bars to share — thinking of others first, to the end.
Pretty cool for a lady who was raised in a small town during the Great Depression, followed by a depression ending WWII, the logging boom followed by the economy crippling spotted owl and so much more. Thelma lived most of her life in the same home in Aberdeen, but her last year was spent at Mother Joseph Care Center where she continued making connections. We are forever grateful for the passionate caregivers there who tended to her every need.
We are also thankful for the support of the Providence Hospice team who guided us all on Thelma’s final journey.
Thelma is survived by her son Joe (Jodee), West Linn, Oregon; daughter-in -law Sandi Gilbert Walczyk, daughter Fran Eide (Olympia), daughter Ingrid Walczyk-Olson (Edmonds); grandchildren Janelle Walczyk Brannan (Bill), Lake Oswego, Oregon; Joey Walczyk (Lessley), Tigard, Oregon; Andrea Naumann (Ken), Salem, Oregon; Alex Walczyk (Kate), Elma; Jeff Eide (Carla), Olympia; Kyndra Douglas (Alan), Tumwater; Megan Florsheim (Adam), Renton and Devin Olson, Edmonds; 11 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and so many friends including her special friend and classmate, Ruth Wayman.
Thelma was preceded in death by her husband Frank, her son David and her son-in-law Steve Eide.
A celebration of life will be held Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Aberdeen Rotary Log Pavilion. Please plan to join us to celebrate Thelma.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Harrison Family Mortuary.
