Pamela “Pam” J. Thys, 64, of Marion, formerly of Marengo, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday May 8, 2022, surrounded by family at Mercy Medical Center, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 1790 14th Street, in Marion. The Reverend David O’Connor will officiate. A private family burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, in Victor, Iowa. A livestream of the Funeral Mass may be accessed at
https://youtu.be/Bx7Q0pBIZ70
.
Pam was born the daughter of Marvin D. and Jane J. (Chekal) Slaymaker on May 16, 1957, in Marengo, Iowa. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in education before Pam married Ray Thys in 1979 and had two children, Emily (AJ) Ohde and Greg (Amanda) Thys. Pam spent many years teaching elementary school at Sacred Heart Elementary in Monticello, Iowa. She later switched careers and retired after working 20+ years at Transamerica in Software Quality Assurance. As a breast cancer survivor, she loved volunteering at Hall-Perrine Cancer Center. Pam loved teaching, traveling, reading, playing cards and spending time with her four grandchildren, Jacob, Ethan, August and Miles.
Survivors in addition to her children and grandchildren include her husband, Ray; mother, Jane Slaymaker; brothers, Mark Slaymaker, Michael Slaymaker (spouse, George Bridges) and Paul (Lorie) Slaymaker; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her father, Marvin Slaymaker and stepmother, Barbara Curtin.
In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation in Pam’s memory to: Hall-Perrine Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.