Althea Zethraus

Althea Elaine Zethraus, 94, of Platteville, died on Sunday, August 27, 2017 at Grays Nursing Home, Platteville.  A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 18, 2017 at the Lutheran Church of Peace, Platteville.  Rev. Jeff Pedersen will officiate.  Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Monday at the church.  A burial with a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Riverside (Los Angeles), California.  The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, is serving the family.  Memorials may be made to the Althea Zethraus Memorial Fund.  Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Althea was born on August 29, 1922, in rural Hanley Falls, Minnesota, the 3rd child of Alvin and Esther (Thompson) Isaacs. She grew up in Clarkfield, Minnesota with her sister, Delores, and brother, Lyle. Her mother died when she was 2, but her father remarried and she was blessed to have another half-brother, Alton; half-sister, Carmen Andrea; and step-sister, Dorothy. All of the siblings cherished and loved their blended family. 

She met Stanley Zethraus when her sister married Stan's brother. She worked for Minneapolis Honeywell during the war inspecting periscopes for submarines.  Althea visited Stan in 1942, while he was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Stan popped the question during this visit, after getting permission from Althea's father, and they were married a few days later, on February 20, 1942, at a Methodist church in Browns Mills. When Stan returned from overseas, he trained new recruits and they were finally together. After the war they built a house in Minneapolis and welcomed their first child, Bruce, on September 7, 1947. They later moved to Sheldon, Iowa, where Jilayne was born on September 15, 1952. They loved to square dance and play cards. Then Stan's job with the postal department took them to California for a few years and then back to Boone, Iowa. This was a wonderful time as the children grew and they made many special friends at church. Althea continued to treat all her friends and church members with delicious items from her kitchen. Everyone knew where her cookie can was (usually full of fresh chocolate chip cookies). She enjoyed making Scandinavian treats also! Her kitchen was small, but full of wonderful smells!

Stan retired and they moved to California in 1976 to enjoy the warm weather, golf and get-togethers with loving relatives. She worked as a teacher's aide for a few years, but their best times were camping across the United States, visiting friends and relatives and meeting new people. She continued to live in Palm Desert, California after Stan's death, until 1999 when she moved to Platteville to be closer to Jilayne.  Althea's faith in God was strong and her love for friends and family was special. She appreciated and cherished visits from everyone. Her health continued to deteriorate during her last years but she so enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Althea is survived by her son, Bruce Zethraus; daughter, Jilayne Paley (Bruce); grandchildren, James and Jennie Paley; Chad and Lisa Paley; Lisa and David Banting; and great-grandchildren, Kayla, Rilynn, and Brynnley Paley; and Lincoln Banting; sister, Carmen Andrea Lindstrom (Ron); brother Lyle Isaacs. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley; sisters, Delores Zethraus (William) and Dorothy Blaness (Olaf); brother, Alton Isaacs.