Betty Jane Thomas, age 85, of Berlin died peacefully on Monday, October 27, 2014 at Juliette Manor
in Berlin.
Betty was born December 15, 1928 in Berlin, the daughter of Mable Hattie Zietlow. She attended
Berlin High School. In June of 1949, Betty was united in marriage to Edward E. Wilke Sr. Together,
they had five children. They later divorced. Betty then married Jim Thomas on October 22, 1970.
She and Jim owned and operated the Country Inn west of Berlin from 1970-1995.
Betty is survived by her 5 children, Gail (Joe) Cismoski of Oshkosh, Carol (Bill) Krueger of Chicago,
Edward (Beth) Wilke of Oshkosh, Julie (Michael) Hess of Berlin and James (Andrea) Wilke of Green
Bay; 8 step-children, Judi (Al) Gosenheimer of Pearl Lake, Terry (Nancy) Thomas of Fond du Lac,
Monica (Lyle) Nelson of Sturgeon Bay, Mark (Rita) Thomas of West Bend, Dan (Debbie) Thomas of
Sheboygan, Maribeth Zanon of Beaver Dam, Jeff (Sheila) Thomas of Ripon and Robie (Amy) Thomas
of Oshkosh; 29 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; her goddaughter, Sara Sobieski Bloch; and
her special friend, Adeline Hart.
She was preceded in death by her husbands; her mother, Mable Zietlow; and a daughter, Susan
Wilke.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 31, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Grace English Lutheran
Church in Berlin, with Rev. Scott T. Piper officiating. Private inurnment will follow in Oakwood
Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends at the church on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until
the time of services. Arrangements have been entrusted to Barbola Funeral Chapel. The family
wishes to thank the staff at Juliette Manor and Agnesian Hospice for their kindness and care to Betty
and her family. Memorials may be directed to Agnesian Hospice and Grace English Lutheran Church.
Online condolences may be emailed to the family at barbolafc@yahoo.com.