Lorena L. Thoms, age 83, of Keshena, passed away at her home on Tuesday, November 26, 2019. Lorena was born on October 2, 1936, in Keshena, to the late Marvin and Evelyn (Olson) Wilber. She attended St. Joseph’s Indian Boarding School in Keshena; Gresham High School; the University of Wisconsin – Madison; Eastern Montana College of Billings, Montana; Native American Legal Training Institute in San Francisco, California; and NADCP – National Association of Drug Court Professionals of Reno, Nevada, San Francisco, California, and Fort McDowell, Arizona.
Lorena was an influential part of her community where she held many offices and positions over the years, as well as received many honors. Lorena’s offices included: Certified by the Wisconsin Alcoholism and Drug Counselor Certification Board as a National Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor from 1970 – 1991, Lay Advocate for the Supreme Court of the Menominee Tribe in 1993 and Lower Court Justice, Menominee Tribal Courts in 2009 – 2015.
Lorena was united in marriage on September 26, 1953 to Eli “Little Bear” Webster, there were six children born of this marriage. Eli preceded her in death. On February 25, 1978, Lorena was united in marriage to John J. Thoms. John also preceded her in death.
Lorena enjoyed beading, traditional sewing, puzzles, going to the casino, and playing cards with her family and friends. She loved spending time with her dogs, Smokey and Brutus. She was known as Ma Webb or Grandma T by many numerous young people on the reservation who not only spent time with her but showed her the respect that she deserved.
Lorena is survived by: her children, Orlin Dale (Pamela) Webster of Neopit, Deborah Jean Webster of Keshena, Terri Lynn Webster of Neopit, and Werner Lee Webster of South Branch; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Rosella “Cooksie” (Richard) Coopman, Delia Basina, Irene Dickenson, Rev. Marvin (Deborah) Wilber, Diana Wasielewski, Clifford (Marjoel) Wilber, Kevin Wilber and Keith Wilber; special sisters-in-law, Lois Franklin and Roberta (Brody) Young; special nieces, Julie Basina and Tamerin Dickenson; and special friends, Elaine Peters, Gloria Miller, Pemina Yellowbird, Julie Savage, Linda Powless, Rochelle Powless, Deborah Van Zile, Velma Landrew and Rose Marie Kreusher. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, Eli; her husband, John; her parents, Marvin and Evelyn; two sons, Michael Anthony Webster and John Joseph Webster; a grandson, Little Horse; two siblings, Merlin Wilber, Sr. and Valeria Fuller; maternal grandparents, Edward and Valeria Olson; and paternal grandparents, Dave and Josephine Wilber.
A funeral mass will be held for Lorena at 1:00 pm, on Friday, November 29, 2019, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Neopit. Burial will be in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Neopit Community Center beginning Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 2:00 pm until the time of the service on Friday. A parish wake service will be held on Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Neopit Community Center.
