Marlene Joy Thomsen

Marlene Joy Thomsen, 90, of Valders died on Sept. 14, 2024, at Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers. She had resided at Angelus Senior Living in Manitowoc since 2021.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Faith Lutheran Church in Valders, with the Rev. Daniel Lyman officiating. Relatives and friends may call at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow at Valders West Cemetery.
Marlene was born on March 31, 1934, in Platteville, daughter of the late Fred and Marion Hougen Brockman. The family lived for a time in Woodruff before settling in Valders.
Marlene attended the Valders schools and graduated from Valders High School in 1952. She then attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, before transferring to Lawrence University in Appleton, where she earned a degree in music education.
She taught music in Burlington and Green Bay before becoming a private piano instructor for many years out of her Valders home.
Marlene married Glenn Thomsen on Feb. 28, 1959, at Valders West Lutheran Church and the couple settled in Valders, where they raised their family. Glenn preceded her in death in 2015.
In 1976, Glenn and Marlene purchased Thomsen's Thunderbird Hill, a resort in Lac du Flambeau in northern Wisconsin, where they welcomed countless guests for many years. Marlene continued to operate the resort after Glenn's death, until retiring and selling the property to her son and daughter-in-law in 2022.
She and Glenn spent half of the year at Thunderbird Hill, where they enjoyed their guests, made many friends and welcomed family, too. Marlene took great pride in providing her guests with clean, well-maintained cabins and offering top-notch hospitality.
She spent the winters in Valders until her health forced her to move to the assisted living facility, where she was well looked after and made new friends.
Marlene enjoyed music, especially piano and classical pieces, and was a talented pianist in her own right. She was a former choir director, organist and pianist at Faith Lutheran Church and also taught Sunday school for several years while her sons were growing up. She was a lifelong member of the congregation.
She enjoyed hosting her family and friends, especially Sunday dinners and holidays. While she was a good cook, she most enjoyed baking and making desserts. Her family will especially remember her Christmas cookies, including gingersnaps and Danish sugar cookies, and she was sure to make delicious lefse every holiday season, paying homage to her beloved Norwegian heritage.
She was also well known for her chocolate ice cream sandwich dessert, which was often served when family and friends gathered at the resort.
She also enjoyed knitting, reading and discussing politics and kept up on local and national news religiously.
She is survived by two sons and three daughters-in-law, Jon and Deborah Thomsen of Lac du Flambeau, Bruce and Bernadette Thomsen of Sun Prairie and Mary Thomsen of Valders; four grandchildren, Hannah and Michael Schalla, Isabelle Thomsen and her boyfriend, Taylor Ripplinger, Eric Thomsen and his girlfriend, Beth Liermann, and Katherine Thomsen and her boyfriend, Zach Snow; and one great-granddaughter, Charlie Ann Schalla.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Marion Brockman; her husband, Glenn; and one son, Brian.
The family wishes to thank all those who helped care for Marlene or visited or called during her later years and while she was ill. Special thanks to the staff of Angelus Senior Living, as well as Jay's Legacy and the doctors and nurses at Aurora Medical Center and its hospice care unit.
Memorials may be made to a family scholarship fund, Faith Lutheran Church or the Lions Leader Dogs for the Blind program.
Online condolences may be left at www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes, Christianson & Deja location, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
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