Elaine C. Thayer

Elaine C. Thayer

1933 – 2024

ODEBOLT - Elaine C. Thayer, 91, of Odebolt, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at the Odebolt Specialty Care of Odebolt. 

A Private Family Funeral Service will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church of Odebolt. Rev. David Viggers will officiate. Committal will follow in the Odebolt Cemetery of Odebolt.

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com.

Elaine Catherine Thayer, the daughter of Albert and Mae (Kolbe) Weitzel, was born on April 5, 1933, at home in Early, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in her faith at the Cook Lutheran Church of rural Odebolt. Elaine attended Early High School where she was actively involved in cheerleading and was crowned the first homecoming queen at EHS.

On Oct. 15, 1950, Elaine was united in marriage to LaDon C. Thayer at the Cook Lutheran Church. Although they were young, their love was a love that soared for decades. The couple was blessed with three children: Grant, Peggy, and Daniel. The family made their home on the farm east of Odebolt. For 12 years, Elaine was employed at The Chronicle as a typesetter.

Faith and family were two of the most important things to Elaine. She was a faithful member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Odebolt. She was active in LWML as well as taught both Sunday School and Bible School. Always willing to discuss her faith with others or recite a Bible verse, Elaine would question if you’d been baptized.

Elaine was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Over the years, she attended many sporting and cheer events to watch her children, and later grandchildren participate. Wrestling was her passion. During meets, Elaine was animated on the bleachers moving around and almost taking down whomever was sitting near her as she cheered on her favorite wrestlers.

Elaine will be remembered for being an awesome cook. Dinner was always served promptly at noon. Many meals were prepared over the years for their hired hands as well as family members. Elaine treasured watching her grandchildren. To this day, they all remember her casseroles and her chippy-dippy bars were a favorite after school snack. Her motto was “no one goes home hungry.”

Known for having a bit of a lead foot, Elaine was often seen peeling out on the gravel roads or highway and proceeding to speed on her way. In 2010, Elaine and LaDon moved to town. After LaDon passed away in 2020, she remained living on her own until May 2022 when she moved in to the Odebolt Specialty Care. During her time living there, Elaine became known as the puzzle queen and was very proud to have been crowned their Valentine’s Day Queen.

Left to cherish her memory include her daughter Peggy (Ron) Hoffman of Omaha, Nebraska; son Daniel (Daisy) Thayer of Odebolt; daughter-in-law Irene Thayer of Odebolt; grandchildren Katie (Andrew) Parr, Kristopher (Sarah) Thayer, April (Lee) Lorshbaugh, and Zachary Thayer; six great-grandchildren; sister Kay (Allen) Olson of Nemaha, Iowa; brother Eugene (Sandy) Weitzel of Early, Iowa; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Albert and Mae Weitzel; husband LaDon Thayer; son Grant Thayer; brother Phillip Weitzel; in-laws DeLos and Olive Thayer.