Toni Sampson

1949 - 2025

Toni Sampson

December 16, 1949 - May 5, 2025

Toni G. Sampson, formerly Thorson, 75, died Monday, May 5, 2025, at her home in Lincoln. Toni was born Dec. 16, 1949, in Houston, Texas, and spent her youth in North Platte, Neb. She was the eldest child of Tony and Elinor Giglio. Growing up, she was a hard worker and an excellent student: everyone who knew her liked her. In 1968 she enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She joined Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She studied English and French, earned her B.A. in 1972 and M.A. in 1974, and obtained her JD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law in 1977. That same year she was admitted to the Nebraska State Bar and was hired as a county attorney in Lincoln. On Jan. 9, 1971, Toni married Norman Thorson. In Norm, she found a shared passion for academia. They invested their time in the arts, cooking, and touring the world with their kids.

In 1989, Toni became the second Juvenile Court Judge in Lancaster County, and one of the first women appointed to the bench in the state of Nebraska. She served for 30 years as a judge on one of the most difficult dockets there is, yet she never lost her incredible compassion, work ethic and respect for the children, youth and families that appeared in her courtroom and whose lives she impacted. Her own children remember her staying up late with brown and beige folders stacked on her lap, pouring over case files every night until she retired at age 69.

After Norm's death in 2003, a devastating loss that could have caused her to recede, Toni rebuilt. She strengthened old friendships and created new ones. She surrounded herself with people she loved. She traveled. She read. She bought beautiful things and ate delicious food. She enjoyed the sort of close, relevant relationships with her grandchildren that you mostly just see in movies. She always knew the cutting edge thing, the latest trends in fashion and pop culture, as if she was one of the kids.

On August 20, 2021, after years of friendship, Toni married John Sampson. Embracing his interests, Toni learned to hunt and fish, developed a love for lake life, and enjoyed living in the country. She in turn shared her love of New York City, the theater, museums, and fine dining. In the weeks before her death, Toni continued to get together with friends to play Mexican Train Dominoes, meet with her long-running book club (40 years!), and attend Italian lessons. Toni lived a full life, and was loved.

Survivors include: her husband; two daughters, Mapes Jane (and wife, Marlena; daughters, Ramona and Bernadette; son, Ike) Thorson of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Emily (and husband, Andy; sons, Gavin and Connor; daughter, Amalia) Gerch of Lincoln; John's daughter, Cori (and husband, Dan; son. Conner and daughter-in-law. Hannah; daughters, Lorraine and Reagan; son, Alex) Vokoun of Lincoln; and two sisters, Rebecca (and husband, Jeff) Stark of Lincoln and Sue (and husband, Jeff) Boyle of Phoenix, Ariz. She was preceded in death by her late husband, Norman W. Thorson; and her parents, Tony and Elinor Giglio.

Family and friends are invited to John's home Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. to visit and share memories. A memorial service will be Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at First-Plymouth Church, 20th & D Street, Lincoln. With a reception to follow.

A 501c3 foundation has been created in her memory, The Toni G Sampson Foundation, to support organizations in Lincoln like HopeSpoke that were dear to Toni. Memorial gifts are tax deductible and can be made to the Toni G. Sampson Foundation, sent to Sampson Construction Company or Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home.

Condolences can be sent to www.bmlfh.com. Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements.

Butherus Maser & Love Funeral Home

4040 A Street, Lincoln, NE 68510

402-488-0934