May 3, 1922  -  November 3, 2016 

Avis Madeline Spexet Thorp, age 94, a lifelong resident of Washburn County left this world behind to be with her Savior on November 3, 2016.  

Avis and her twin brother Arnold were born May 3, 1922 in Crystal Township to parents Marten and Amanda Spexet.  Amanda died May 22, 1922 so the twins were raised by their grandparents, Ole E. and Anna Mary Spexet.  Arnold died young in 1930.  This was the first time Avis “saw angels”.

Avis eloped with Robert Stanley Thorp to the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa on March 7, 1942.  They had many happy years together until his death in 1979.  They built a house next door to her beloved grandmother who Avis cared for until her death.  Stan served overseas in combat zones from December 1942 to December 1945.  During this time Avis “sat” the Potato Lake Fire Tower.  Upon Stan’s return, they finished building their house.  Son Dale Edward (deceased 1988) and daughter Lois Marie (Washington State) joined the family in 1950 and 1952.  

Avis was a caregiver extraordinaire working at Spooner Nursing Home for 25 years as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) until retiring in 1993!  Following retirement she worked on-call nights at Hayward Memorial Hospital.  Always ready and willing to lend a helping hand or a hand up, Avis was known to many as the “Nurse on Highway 70”.  She never turned away anyone in distress, caring for many local people, their elders, their children (Granny to many!) or their pets.  Her door was always open.  Years ago, Dr. Goellner referred to her as the “Mother Theresa” of Stone Lake!  She lived her wish to “live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man” which were the words engraved on the Little Brown Church steps. 

Avis was a great source of information to many people in this area.  She served on the Stone Lake Town Board and was active in multiple community activities.  She was a 4H leader, a Sunday School teacher, and a lifetime member of her church and of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapters 128 and 239.  Her greatest joys were growing and giving!  She lovingly shared the bounty of her huge gardens and fruit trees.  She was fascinated by all of nature and loved the out of doors.  She was a “sky” watcher.  She had a very quick wit and loved to make people smile.  She always put others first.

Avis is survived by; her sister Marie Thompson of Spooner, daughter Lois Thorp Parker (Doug Parker) of Washington,  four grandson, Brian Scott Jarvis (Oliva) and children, Brittney Brianne of Dallas, TX, Anna Avis (6) and Stanley Scott (3), Robert Scott Thorp (Molly) and sons Sam and Gus of Chippewa Falls,  Matthew Earnest Thorp (Amy) and children Amanda, Marcus, Natalie, and Rylee of Montevideo, Minnesota, Bradley G. Thorp, children Dallas and Bryce of Minnesota, Jennifer White, mother of Bradley G. Thorp, Jean Thorp, mother of Robert and Matthew Thorp, adopted daughters Lois Belille, Lou DuBois, Eileen Brossard, Judy LaRonge, and too many dear and precious friends to list. 

Avis was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert Thorp, son Dale, twin brother Arnold Spexet, two sisters Josephine Spexet and Anna, brothers Roy and Selmer and step-mother Mary Spexet.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in Stone Lake.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be at Anah Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.

Last Update: Dec 16, 2018 5:39 pm CST