Thelma M. Stenlund

Thelma M. Stenlund

Mar 17, 1915 – Apr 19, 2017

Thelma Moss Stenlund, 102, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in Council Bluffs, IA.  Born in Omaha, NE, on St. Patrick’s Day, 1915, the daughter of the late Denby Moss Brodil and Harry Moss, she was a graduate of Benson High School.  She lived in Omaha until 2008 when she moved to Council Bluffs.

She devoted her life to sharing her enjoyment of music with others.  She was blessed with the gift of being able to teach others and she worked at her profession diligently.  Teaching keyboard instruments from the time she was 17, she was Accompanist at Benson High School, Central High School, Ryan High School, Duchesne College of the Sacred Heart and Omaha Symphonic Chorus.  For 44 years, she served as Organist and Choir Director in Omaha at Clifton Hill Presbyterian Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church, Immanuel Baptist and Central United Presbyterian Church.  A member of First Presbyterian Church since 1935, she was President of Private Music Instructors of Omaha, Nebraska Federation of Music Clubs and Nebraska Summer Music Olympics.  She served as Dean of the Omaha Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and on the National Board of National Federation of Music Clubs.  She was Treasurer of Private Music Instructors for 20 years.

Besides sharing her love of music with all those who were touched by her life, she passed her love of plants and animals (from her mother and grandmother) along to everyone who knew her.

She is survived by her son, Lynn Stenlund and wife Sue; her daughter, Julie Kraft and husband Vincent; three grandchildren: Joanna McDonald (Nick), Laura Stenlund (Katie Jackson), and Douglas Stenlund; a great-grandson, Camden McDonald; sister-in-law, Marian Schleicher; many nieces and nephews.

She has requested no funeral service and will be cremated.  VISITING HOURS will be Friday, May 12th from 4pm to 7pm at the Bel Air Chapel, 12100 W. Center Rd.  A private graveside memorial service will be held at West Lawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park.  Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions can be made to NSMO (Nebraska Summer Music Olympics), c/o Sandy Bock, 501 South 51st St., Omaha, 68106; or to Little White Dog Rescue Inc., at www.littlewhitedogrescue.org.

The family wants to thank everyone who was so kind to Mom throughout the years, especially Lana, Charles, Kathleen, Sue N., Shelley, Bill and Jeri, George and Rose Marie, and the wonderful staffs at Amelia House and Risen Son Christian Village.

 

 

7 Comments

  • Karen Kearney Posted April 21, 2017 1:38 pm

    Very sorry to hear about her passing. She was and still is an inspiration to me! She was my idol….stil want to be like Thelma!

  • Julie Crotty-Guile Posted April 21, 2017 4:00 pm

    I send condolences to Thelma’s family, students, and friends. She was a disciplined woman and a fine teacher!

  • Susan Archer Ingram Posted April 22, 2017 11:05 am

    Dear Julie, Lynn, and Family,

    I am so sorry for your loss. Thelma was an amazing and talented person! She was a friend of my Mom’s when Mom worked in the office at Central High long ago. They kept in touch throughout the years. Both my sister Janet and my son Brian took piano lessons from her. I recall Thelma proudly talking about you, Julie and Lynn.

    A special memory I have is that Thelma played the piano for my wedding in ’88. It was a small family celebration in my home, with a dinner that followed. And she fit right into the family gathering and seemed to enjoy it as much as we enjoyed having her with us, Her beautiful music was truly the icing on the cake!

    May God’s love, along with wonderful memories, bring you peace at this difficult time.

    Sincerely,
    Sue Ingram

  • Charles Begay Posted April 25, 2017 10:37 pm

    Sending prayers and sympathy to all members of the Stenlund Family on the loss of of ‘T.’ Mother Stenlund simply was the best ~ gifted, gentle, and wise.. Our enduring friendship meant so much.

  • Roberta E. Fagan Posted May 11, 2017 5:38 am

    Mrs. Stenlund had the thankless task of teaching me to play the piano from 1958 to 1969 and it was remarkable how calm and gentle she was in spite of my laziness! She was a great musician and a great lady. My deepest sympathy to her beloved family and friends.

  • Pamela, Yemi (Odugbesan) & Erin (Tunsie) Smith Posted May 11, 2017 5:22 pm

    Dear Mrs. Stenlund: Although our last lessons were some twenty-five years ago, we still remember them as if they were only yesterday, since Yemi returned to the piano only last month and has now taken up the guitar. We have every single page of our note books with your instructions scribbled in them. For as long as there is music around us, especially now that the grandchildren have begun exploring the art of music-making, your memory will live on in our hearts forever. We love you. R.I,P

  • Melissa Kroll Posted January 4, 2019 2:38 pm

    Mrs. Stenlud was my piano teacher for 8 years when I was younger. She was an amazingly spunky women whom I will already remember. What an amazing and long life she lived❤️

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