Merillyn Janice Thomas

Merillyn J. Thomas (nee Kraft), aged 84 of Merton, WI, peacefully entered eternal life on March 1, 2025.

Born on December 3, 1940, in Cedarburg, WI, to Alfred C. and Hilda H. Kraft, she became a beloved wife to Daniel G. Thomas on June 4, 1960. They enjoyed married life for 53 years until his passing in 2013. She will be deeply missed by her children; Barbara, Daniel and Carla; as well as her grandchildren, Britney (Brad) Hermanson, Anna (Edgar) Thomas and Daniel Thomas. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Zendaya, Elias and Violette; her brother, Ronald Kraft; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her brother, Warren Kraft.

During life, she enjoyed spending time with her family outside of work. She spent time teaching her daughter Barbara how to knit, crochet and embroider; she also taught her daughter Carla to decorate cakes which she learned to do while working at the candy counter at JCPenney. She further enjoyed spending time with her children being a Brownie leader and Cub Scout Den mother. Her grandchildren remember the smiles and laughs had at Granny and Grandpa’s house playing games like tic-tac-toe and Hi Ho Cherry-O and even coloring pictures. In her retirement she enjoyed gardening and traveling the Midwest to jazz fests with her husband, her granddaughter and sometimes her daughters. After the passing of her husband, she enjoyed blues fests with her daughter. She met many friends through music who will miss her dearly as well.

At work, she was a well loved coworker during her years working at Evan’s Brothers (later Ameriserve) and QuadGraphics, where she worked until her retirement at 75 years of age. As a receptionist, she will always be remembered as a smiling face greeting those coming in to start their work shifts.

A graveside service will be held at Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha on March 19, 2025 at 1:30 pm.