Elsie Viktoria Anna Von Raison Thomas, 91 of Lincoln, went to be with her Savior while in hospice care on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Born in Libau, Latvia on June 15, 1921 to Julius Georg Hugo Von Raison and Ilse (Jansohn) Von Raison, she was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years Herbert Th. Thomas Sr. and two sons Michael Frank Thomas and Herbert Hans Thomas Jr.
Elsie spent her childhood in and around Riga, Latvia before attending college in Poznan, Poland while working at the Raczynski Library. She was then accepted into library school at the Prussian State Library in Berlin in 1941, where she received her post-graduate library degree. After graduation, she returned to Poznan to work at the Raczynski Library and to be close to her family. Soon the second stint at the Library was disrupted by the war and she and her family became refugees fleeing the advancing Soviet Army. Throughout the war Elsie had stayed in contact with her childhood friend Herbert Thomas who was in the German Navy. Toward the end of the war they had lost contact but Elsie received one of the many letters Herb had sent her, informing her of his whereabouts in Schwiecheldt, Germany following his release as a POW by the British. They married in Schwiecheldt and their love endured for 59 years until Herb’s death in 2005. Michael and Herb Jr. were born in 1946 and 1950 respectfully to be followed in 1958 by son Ken.
In 1952, Herb, Elsie, and their two sons immigrated to the United States and settled in their beloved city of Lincoln. In 1954 Elsie began working part-time for the University of Nebraska as a library specialist and began fulltime employment in 1955. She remained in the employ of the University, working at both Donald Love Memorial Library and C.Y. Thompson Library for the next 37 years, finally retiring in 1992 at the age of 72. During her tenure she would often have students over for meals or have them stay at the house while the dormitories were closed for the holidays or the summer. Her last assignment was in the Special Collections of the University Archives where she cataloged and translated the collection of Latvian President and Prime Minister Karlis Ulmanis, who attended the University. Elsie was able to speak seven languages and she spent much of her retirement years doing translations for her many beloved friends.
Elsie was very spiritual, believing that God’s hand had always guided and protected them. She wrote in her memoirs “. . .there were many instances in our lives when this became clear. There was a plan and it was not ours. We were richly blessed.” Those blessings were evident as the end neared in her relationship with Tabitha Home Care, Bryan Hospital, Tabitha Hospice, and especially her former care givers Melissa Jandera and Jami Deffenbaugh.
Elsie is survived by her last remaining son Ken S. Thomas, daughter-in-law Lynae F. Thomas, grandchildren Trevor J. and Taryn G. Thomas of Overland Park, Kansas.
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 2, 2012 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1800 South 84th Street.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the University of Nebraska Foundation or the Tabitha Foundation. No
Visitation/Cremation.