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BORN
1946
DIED
2025
Thulla Edwards Obituary
March 27, 1946 - November 3, 2025
Thulla Mae Edwards was born on March 27, 1946, to Harry and Thulla (Thompson) Shepard in Norfolk, Virginia, and passed away on November 3, 2025, in David City, Nebraska, at the age of 79 years, 7 months, and 7 days.
Thulla grew up in Loami, Illinois, where she attended school. In 1964, she married Robert Schiessl in Springfield, Illinois, and together they settled in Jacksonville, Illinois. To this union, three children were born. The young family moved often, but eventually made their home in Seward, Nebraska in 1976.
In 1981, Thulla married Burt Edwards in Ulysses, Nebraska where they built a life together. She worked in the dietary department at Columbus Community Hospital until her retirement in 2011. Thulla also made history as the first female EMT and firefighter for the Ulysses Volunteer Fire Department - a role she was deeply proud to hold as she served her community.
Thulla and Burt enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially hunting together. They took great pride in creating their quaint home in Ulysses, where Thulla's love for gardening and decorating brought warmth and charm. She was also an accomplished seamstress, sewing many of her daughters' school clothes.
In retirement, Thulla loved working on jigsaw puzzles - the bigger, the better! One of her proudest moments came in 2020, when she fulfilled a lifelong dream of taking a hot air balloon ride while visiting Colorado with her dear friend and former co-worker, George Sipp. She cherished that experience.
Thulla was preceded in death by her parents; brother, James Lee Shepard; husband, Burt Edwards; and son-in-law, Jess Thacker.
She is lovingly remembered by her children and their spouses, Danny Lee (Corina) Schiessl of Salyer, California; Shannon Marie (Jeffrey) Swanson of St. Paul, Nebraska; and Angela Jean (Jason) Roberts of Maumee, Ohio. She is also survived by Burt's children, Kevin (Jean) Edwards of Omaha, Nebraska, and Roxanne Steward of Lincoln, Nebraska.
A private family graveside will take place in the springtime at the Ulysses Township Cemetery.
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