Thelma Marie Gates, age 94 of Kenosha, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at Hospice Alliance/Hospice House.

Born in Bristol, Kenosha County on November 10, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Roger Dewey and Clara Marie (Krueger) Jackson. She attended Kenosha County schools and was a graduate of Wilmot High School.

On September 9, 1944 at Zion Lutheran Church, Bristol, she was united in marriage to Walter G. Gates.  Her loving husband passed away in July of 1993.

She was a member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church. Thelma played the organ and piano for almost 70 years; playing at Zion Lutheran Church in Bristol and Peace Lutheran Church in Wilmot. She also played for many weddings, funerals and her children’s school events. She was a member of the Mall Walkers and attended many chili dumps, card parties and Christmas parties.

Thelma was a dedicated wife and mother. She was a very talented seamstress where she used her skills to make clothes for her daughters, and bridesmaid and party dresses for others.

She is survived by her children, Judith Flood, Susan Zirbel, Lawrence (Kathy) Gates, Beverly (Jeff) Bulik and John (Cindy) Gates; her eleven grandchildren, Shawn, Melissa, Heather, Mike, Nick, Sarah, Caroline, Andy, Ben, Allyson and Nicole; her eleven great grandchildren, Deacon, Rayna, Dakota, Logan, Abigail, Arianna, Elianna, Oliver, Ada, Lyric and Kyle; and many loving nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Eugene and Edward Jackson; her sisters-in-law, Larraine and Jeanine; her nephew, Eugene Jackson, Jr.; her sons-in-law, Roger Flood and Robert Zirbel; and a great grandchild at birth, Mason.

Service Info

Funeral Services honoring Thelma’s life will be held on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5927 37^th Avenue. Interment will follow in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park. A visitation for Thelma will be held at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances to Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church would be appreciated.