Gwen Thayer, 96, Princeton

October 20, 1919 - July 3, 2016

Gwendolyn N. Thayer, age 96 of Princeton, passed away, Sunday, July 3, 2016 at the Elim Home in Princeton.

Gwendolyn Neoma Lund was born on October 20, 1919 in Bricelyn, Minnesota, the daughter of Levi and G. Chloe (Reed) Lund. She graduated from high school in Fairmont and continued her education by attending Minneapolis School of Business. Gwen was united in marriage to Leonard Thayer on February 22, 1948. To this union 3 children were born.

In 1952, Leonard and Gwen bought a farm in Zimmerman and raised Arabian horses and sheep. Gwen worked at Rum River Lumber Company as a bookkeeper. She also supported her husband and served alongside him in his family excavating business, “Thayer Company,” as the bookkeeper. When their dream of building and running a camp in the area became a reality, they sold the farm and built a home on the camp property. “Camp in the Woods” was integral in building lifelong friendships that remain to this day! It was a place where precious memories were made.

After retirement in 1982, Leonard and Gwen bought a fifth wheel trailer and for 6 years, traveled all over the United States, spending many winters in Arizona. Wanting to plant some roots again, the couple moved to Rogers, Arkansas where Gwen was surprised with the sudden loss of her beloved husband in 1988. She continued to live in Arkansas and hosted many family gatherings, making dear memories for her grandchildren. In 1996, she moved back to Princeton.

Family was the most important thing to Gwen. She was known to travel to see family whenever she could. Her grandchildren will remember “Camp in the Woods,” family trips to Arkansas, “frogging” in the pond north of Princeton and picking veggies from Grandma and Grandpa’s garden.

Gwen will be deeply missed by her children, Susan (Steven) VanHooser of Princeton, Beverly (David) Schmid of Wisconsin, and Gary (Norma) Thayer of Texas; 9 grandchildren, Amy Stahlback, Kelsey Head, Callie Reyes, Leah Schmid, Jalea Schmid, Mandy Rickets, Megan Covey, Molly Redmon, Michelle Foreman; 16 great-grandchildren; and her sister-in- law Ruth Lund.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard; her brother, Roger Lund; and her sister, Floreine Wallin.

A Celebration of Gwen’s Life will be held at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Princeton on Thursday, July 7 at 7PM, with a gathering of family and friends from 5-7PM.

Gwen’s family would like to thank the staff at The Caley House and Elim Home for their wonderful care their mother received. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Caley House Assisted Living, Princeton.