09/30/2022
Thelma Ilene (Thompson) Braafhart, peacefully passed away in Arizona at the age of 93 on September 2, 2020, surrounded by her loving family.
Thelma was born on March 26, 1927, in Knoxville, Iowa. She was the only child of Harry Wesely Thompson and Cleo Imogene Thompson (Beaman).
Thelma graduated from Knoxville High School in Knoxville, Iowa on May 18, 1944.
After high school, Thelma worked as a medical secretary at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Knoxville, Iowa.
Following the war, Thelma married her high school sweetheart, Casper Edward Braafhart, on November 29, 1947, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
They were happily married and celebrated 69 years together before Casper’s passing on September 28, 2017.
After marriage, Thelma and Casper spent most of their time in Long Beach, California where she worked as a school secretary.
She and Casper then moved to Mesa, Arizona in the mid-50s with their first daughter, Debra. Shortly thereafter, Thelma gave birth to their second child, Terri. She continued the rest of her life as a homemaker raising her two beautiful girls as well as caring for many of her grandchildren.
Thelma’s love for music was evident throughout her entire life. Thelma was a highly talented saxophonist in her dance band, “Top Hatters” in the 1940s where she performed in front of thousands of people.
She was also an accomplished dancer from the early 1930s all the way to the late 1990s. She performed everything from acrobatics, tap dancing, and ballroom/Latin, to round dancing and square dancing.
Thelma was a tremendous seamstress, making numerous dance outfits and Halloween costumes for her and her family.
She also loved spending time in their motorhome traveling the United States and visiting her dear friends back home in Knoxville, Iowa.
Thelma is survived by her two daughters, Debra Ann Norris (Braafhart), and Terri Ann Caves (Braafhart), 10 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
Thelma will be remembered for her love of family, her love of Iowa, her intelligence, creativity, beautiful dancing, and her loyalty to her husband.
A visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on 2020-09-12 at Mountain View Funeral Home Chapel, 7900 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85207.
A memorial service will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on 2020-09-12 at Mountain View Funeral Home Chapel, 7900 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85207.
Entombment will be held from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM on 2020-09-12 at Mountain View Funeral Home Mausoleum, 7900 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85207.