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- April 23, 2012
Irma Gritzke Burgasser Thiele
Niagara Gazette
NORTH TONAWANDA — Irma Edna Gritzke Burgasser Thiele, a child of God, age 93, of North Tonawanda, NY, entered the next step of her life: eternity with her Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ on April 21, 2012.
Mrs. Thiele was born September 26, 1918 in Buffalo, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Gritzke. She was the tenth of twelve children. She married George A. Burgasser on September 5, 1938; he died May 1973. She married Eugene William Thiele on June 29, 1976; he died February 1980.
Beloved mother of Joanne E. (Donald) Gatz of Arcadia, MI, and Patricia C. (William) Doebler, Raymond Thomas "Doc" (Betty) Burgasser, George C. (Becky) Burgasser, all of North Tonawanda; grandmother of Laura, Pam, Heather, Brian, Jessica, Melissa, George Aaron, Jonathan and the late Lisa; great-grandmother of Callie, Cassidy, Mary, Catherine, Bryan, Sara, Tyler, Chase, Acacia and Benjamin, all treasures given by the Lord.
Mrs. Thiele had been a lifetime member of the Lutheran Church, with membership currently at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda. She served in many capacities in the church over the years including L WML Eastern District Secretary, Superintendent of Vacation Bible School for four years at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.
Additionally, she was Chairman of the March of Dimes of North Tonawanda the year just prior to the market release of the Sulk Vaccine for Polio; an avid Republican leader, including chairing the local campaign for "I Like Ike" presidential campaign of 1952; president and held other offices of the Colonel Payne PTA, and established the Girl Scouts program at Colonel Payne School.
A graduate of Buffalo State Teachers College, she received her BS in Education and masters in Educational Supervision and Administration, teaching in Niagara Falls at the 24th Street and 95th Street Schools from 1964-1988. Mrs. Thiele had been listed in over 50 American and International Biographies of Educators and Leaders, among them "Who's Who of American Women," "Personalities of the World," "Dictionary of International Biography," "5,000 World Leader of Achievement," "2,000 Notable "American Women."
Friends may call at the Fretthold Funeral Home Inc., 1241 Oliver St. at Ward Rd., in North Tonawanda on Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Graveside services will be conducted at Acacia Park Cemetery on Thursday at 9 AM. A "Celebration of Life," earthly and heavenly of Irma Burgasser Thiele be held on Thursday at 10 AM at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 1135 Oliver St., North Tonawanda. The Rev. Patrick McKenzie will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church, St. Mark Lutheran School, The Lutheran Hour, Buffalo State College, LCMS Missions or any of your favorite organizations. Guest register available at frettholdfuneralhome.com.
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