Agnes Anna Thooft

AGNES ANNA THOOFT was born September 19, 1931, to Camille and Mary (Jacob) Lanoue on a farm in Underwood Township of Redwood County, Minnesota. She was baptized at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Lucan, Minnesota and received First Communion and was Confirmed at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy, Minnesota. She grew up on a farm south of Milroy and attended school in Milroy and Tracy, graduating from Milroy High School in 1949. She helped on the family farm until she married Etienne “E.R.” Thooft at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on February 9, 1955. Their union was blessed with eleven children and 65 years of life together. The couple farmed and raised their family in Island Lake Township of Lyon County, Minnesota. In 1993 they retired and moved to Tyler, Minnesota. On Friday, March 13, 2020, Agnes died peacefully at the Divine Providence Health Center in Ivanhoe, Minnesota at the age of 88 years, five months, and 24 days.

Agnes was a member of St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Tyler. She served as an usher, Eucharistic minister, and was involved with the Council of Catholic Women. She helped deliver Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed playing cards, crocheting, making blankets for grandchildren and great-grandchildren, gardening, and traveling to Belgium, France, and Holland. She especially enjoyed time spent with family.

Agnes is lovingly remembered by her husband, E.R.; nine children, Diane (Dan) Vercruysse of Tyler, MN, Yvonne (Mike) Sontag of Minneota, MN, John (Lorie) Thooft of Marshall, MN, Duane (Judy) Thooft of Arco, MN, Margie Thooft of Rapid City, SD, Bernard (Marcia) Thooft of Clay Center, KS, Fran (Sherry) Thooft of Beaver City, NE, Daryl Thooft of Ghent, MN, and Joyce (Keith) Louwagie of St. Joseph, MN; 34 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Leonard Lanoue of Tracy, MN, George Lanoue of Marshall, MN, Robert (Judy) Lanoue of Mora, MN, Vincent (Jeanette) Lanoue of Tracy, MN, and Ernest (Liz) Lanoue of Ivanhoe, MN; and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by two sons, Roger and Timothy; grandchildren, Stephen Vercruysse and Brianna Thooft; three sisters, Alice Laleman, Adeline Meulebroeck, and Arlene McCoy; and two brothers, Joseph and Dennis Lanoue.

Blessed be her memory.