Maureen J. Thalacker, age 65, died Monday morning, March 23, 2009 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, after a courageous battle with cancer. Memorial Services: 10:00 A. M. Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, with Rev. Paul Scheidt officiating. Inurnment will be in St. John’s Cemetery, rural Homestead. The family will receive friends after 9:00 A.M. Wednesday until service time at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to St. Luke’s Hospice, the American Cancer Society or Bethany Lutheran Church. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include her husband Ronald, and three sons, John (Michele) of Baxter, IA, Steve of Amana and Dave (Heidi) of Fairfax. Also surviving are five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant daughter.

Known to most as “Butchie”, she was born on September 26, 1943, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Oehl Wetjen. She graduated from Amana High School and attended Valparaiso University. Maureen married Ronald Thalacker on August 31, 1963 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Homestead, Iowa. She was employed over 30 years at the Ox Yoke Inn in Amana and most recently worked at the Kitchen Sink in Amana. She was a person of not wanting, but rather that of giving. She cherished time with family and especially her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all.

A special thanks to St. Luke’s Hospice for their compassionate care and to the Gynecology/Oncology Department at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.