Elma Thieme, 91 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away on Saturday, August 10, 2013 in the Laurels of Shane Hill located in Rockford, Ohio where she had been a resident for the past three months. She was born on Tuesday, December 13, 1921 in Van Wert County, Ohio the daughter of the late Andrew Etzler and the late Emma (Gunsett) Etzler. She married her first husband, Virgil M. Springer, on November 2, 1941 and he passed away on July 16, 1942. She married her second husband, Arnold Thieme, on April 20, 1947 and he passed away on January 10, 1997. Elma was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where she was involved with the Ladies Aid. She was also a member of Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML). She retired in 1983 from Montgomery Ward as a sales clerk. Prior to that, she had worked at General Electric. Surviving are her daughter, Arlene (Clair) Dudgeon of Van Wert, Ohio; son, Alton D. Thieme of Fort Wayne; son, Floyd L. (Jane) Thieme of Decatur; daughter, Anita (Michael) Miller of Decatur; daughter-in-law, Sandra Springer of Decatur; thirteen grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren, three step great-grandchildren, and five step great great-grandchildren. Preceding Elma in death were a son, Virgil Springer; eight brothers, Theodore; Harold; Henry; Leo; Arnold; Edwin; Otto & Ralph Etzler; a sister, Leah Dowler; and a great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 14, 2013 in the Immanuel Lutheran Church with Rev. David Koeneman officiating. Interment will follow in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2 to 5 p.m. & 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, August 13 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Preferred memorials are to Immanuel Lutheran Church; State of the Heart Hospice; Alzheimer's Association; or the donor's choice.
