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"Aunt Elsie" Anna Thoms, age 95 of Onaway, died February 7, 2006 at her home. Elsie was born in North Allis Township on July 14, 1910 to Henry and Anna (Domke) Schmidt. On May 27, 1934 she was married to Oscar "Jim" Thoms in Detroit. Aunt Elsie was a life long resident of North Allis Township, except for a few years she spent in Detroit before she and Jim returned to North Allis Township to make their home just down the road from where she grew up. While in Detroit, Aunt Elsie worked as a dental assistant. After the death of her husband in 1957, Elsie ran a sawmill and also worked many years at Russell Memorial Hospital as a nurses aide. Aunt Elsie was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Onaway for many years. She was very dedicated to the children and taught Sunday school for three generations and led the children's choir. She was also involved with the Women's Mission Circle, church choir, and church band. Aunt Elsie was known for her woodcrafts. She made thousands of woodcrafted toys for the children. She also made birdhouses, shelves, and many other wood items. Elsie also enjoyed gardening, hunting, and doing cement work. For the 100th Anniversary of the First Baptist Church she wrote the history of the church (1902-2002). Elsie also wrote the history of the Schmidt school (Cement school) on North Allis Highway. Aunt Elsie will be sadly missed by her sister, Mildred Bone of Geneva, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim (1957); brothers, Louis, William, Albert and Henry Schmidt; and an infant sister. |
