Paula Sue Thyssen

Obituary for Paula Sue (Nelson) Thyssen 

In the early morning hours of December 19th, Paula gained her wings; but she made sure to pack a lot into her almost 67 years before she went home with the angels. 

Always an early bird Paula was born when the sun came up on February 25th, 1955 to Genevieve (Garsow) and Lawrence Nelson of DePere. She hit the ground running from the start to keep up with her beloved older sister Donna and big brother Larry, her elders by 12 and 9 years. Some of her greatest childhood memories include riding horses by the creek, singing her heart out in choir and always outrunning her mom when she was naughty and Gen chased her around the kitchen table yelling, “Get back here so I can whack you with this flyswatter!” 

Paula was bright; she knew how to dodge that flyswatter and she also excelled in academics, eventually graduating from Daytona Beach Community College with a degree in Nursing.  For over 40 years she used her intelligence, kindness, compassion and humor to help her patients and their families. Paula knew when to use wit and when to use wisdom, she was a true credit to the honorable profession of nursing. 

Paula really knew how to love, you never had to guess how special you were to her. Her greatest love (besides ice cream & chocolate) was her husband Wayne Thyssen.  Paula and Wayne shared 15 years of camping trips, belly laughs, cold beers sitting outside their Kaukauna cabin, a mutual love of dogs and animals and a fierce dedication to family and friends. 

Paula didn’t just know how to love well, she knew how to live well.  Paula practiced gratitude and immersed herself in the world around her. She loved nature, trees, lakes, mountains, wildlife…anything outdoors.  She lived an enviable life of adventure when she could; scuba diving the coral reefs, showing prize horses, cross country skiing, playing tennis, learning pickle ball, aligning her chakras, tickling the ivories. working in Yellowstone for an entire summer a couple of years ago, traveling all across the United States and abroad to Italy.  Paula made memories and friends at every single activity along the way. 

Her smile was quick and her laugh contagious, you could always count on her grin and her sense of humor.  What a friend we all had in Paula; because she was dearly loved, respected and adored she is already deeply missed. 

We know Paula would say her biggest accomplishment in life was having so many people to love and so many people who truly loved her. 

Paula is survived by: the love of her life, Wayne Thyssen, brother Larry and sister in law Marlene and brother in law Neil Keohane; Paula’s step-children: Jennifer (Shawn) Thyssen-McCarthy, Maggie Wagner, Mollie McAvoy; step-grandchildren: Jacob, Ava, Katie and Alex;  Wayne’s siblings and their spouses, Joan Anderson, Nancy (Ron) Moureau, Luann (Pete) Thomson, Grace (Greg) Boncher, Mike (Terry) Thyssen, Ellen Thyssen (Frank Turriff), Yvonne (Joe) Schauer and Annette Thyssen.  As well as her many nieces and nephews including special niece, Shelley Hefty. Her life-long friends of more than 60 years: Michelle Menard, Sara Heesaker, Bonnie Delaruelle; nursing friends: Vicki Zenz LeFevre, Mary Alexis Pfutzenreuter; and far too many other friends and loved ones to count.   

She was preceded in death by her parents, Genevieve and Lawrence, and her sister Donna Keohane.  She was also preceded by Wayne’s sister, Judy (Wes) Kupsky, brother, Ralph Thyssen and brother-in-law, Lee Anderson. 

Paula’s celebration of life will take place on Monday, December 27th at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N Webster Ave, De Pere, from 3-6pm followed by a service at 6:00pm. 

In true Paula style she is not done giving yet. In lieu of flowers please consider a monetary donation in her name to Unity Hospice 2366 Oak Ridge Circle, De Pere, WI 54115 or Can Do Canines, 9440 Science Center Drive New Hope, MN 55428