Lila Hensley

Lila Ann Baur (Hensley, Thorpe), age 84, a resident of Wheaton, Illinois, passed away peacefully following a short illness on Friday, May 9, 2025.  She was born November 11, 1940, in Owensville, Missouri to John and Jessie Baur. 

 Lila was a pillar of her community for many years. She called Platteville, Wisconsin and Kirkwood, Missouri her home. Lila was known for her generosity, her kind-heartedness, and her dignity. Her friends and family will always remember her quick wit and her loving nature. 

 Lila earned her associate's degree from Hannibal-LaGrange College in 1960, her bachelor's degree from University of Missouri-Columbia in 1962, and her master's degree from University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1974. She studied Education, English, and French. 

 Lila taught English and/or French in Raytown, Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, Fayetteville, Arkansas, Hazel Green, Wisconsin, and Dubuque, Iowa. (She also taught Spanish and German in Dubuque!) She won the Congressional Award for Innovative Teaching and Creative Teaching in 1991 and Teacher of the Year at Southwestern High School in 1992. Lila was a beloved teacher of English and French at Southwestern High School from 1974 to 1998. 

 Lila was an active member of First English Lutheran Church in Platteville and Trinity Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, Missouri. At First English Lutheran Church, she was involved in numerous committees: building, staff support, worship and music, education, and nursery. She also served on the church council. Lila loved teaching pre-school Sunday school. 

 Lila and Harvey enjoyed attending cultural events at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, including madrigal dinners during the school year and the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival during the summer. Lila was a member of the Anne Hathaway Guild from 1977. Harvey and Lila loved attending the theatre year-round. 

 Lila traveled to France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, England, and Canada. She loved extending classroom experiences into meaningful learning experiences abroad. She organized and led numerous trips for her high school students. Lila loved all things French, including sorbet. 

 Lila was a long-time active member of PEO chapters in Kirkwood, Missouri, and Platteville, Wisconsin. 

 She is survived by her children David (Janette) Hensley and Melissa Hensley (Virginia Kranitz); her grandchildren Allison (Landers) Pannell and Benjamin Hensley; her great grandchild; her brothers John Baur and Mike (Mari Stanis) Baur, and beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

 She was preceded in death by her husband James Harvey Hensley (2002) and her husband Mark Thorpe (2014). Mark introduced Lila to many new travel destinations in the United States, and they loved traveling to see Mark's family in Oregon, North Carolina, and Florida. Mark and Lila had a special relationship; each having cared for a spouse through a terminal illness. 

A memorial service will be held at First English Lutheran Church, 215 West Pine Street, Platteville, Wisconsin 53818, on Sunday, May 18. (The family visitation will start at 1pm, and the funeral at 2pm.) 

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to First English Lutheran Church or Family Advocates in memory of Lila Hensley.