Lila J Thornton (nee Hinman)
March 6 1936 to January 1, 2026
Of Mukwonago passed away on Thursday January 1 2026 at Waukesha Memorial surrounded by her children. She was 89 years old. Born on March 6 to Dorothy (Danford) Hinman & Howard M. Hinman. Lila was born on a family farm in Onedia, Iowa. On November 26, 1953 she married Eugene Thornton in Earlville IA. She was a 54 year resident of Mukwonago. She was a cook until retirement from Vernon Presbyterian Lutheran Church Daycare Center. She was an active volunteer for over 50 years for both St James Church & School as well as belonging to their building committee for the current church, Christian Mothers, and Secular Franciscan Order, as well as being a member of the church choir for many years. She taught both knitting and crocheting classes at St James and was formerly a frequent accompanist for St James school music competitions. She was a bathroom attendant for many Maxwell Street Days, coach and frequent score keeper for multiple sports teams including Mukwonago CAA for both boys’ baseball and girls’ & women’s softball. She also coached girls’ volleyball for St. James. She was a Pack 29 den mother, assistant to the troop leader for Boy Scout Troops 29 and 129, a Caldwell Busy Bees 4-H leader, and an avid area youth sports fan. If she wasn’t busy keeping stats you would find her in the stands knitting & cheering on the teams loudly in her big pink hat.
She is survived by her children Randall (Debbi), Ruth Caves, Robert (Linda), Rosemary (Jeff) Hassenfeldt, Raymond (Laura), Roy, Rachel (Arlin) Pawlak, Rita (Brian) Nowatske, Gail Weight, John (Annette) and Paul; 21 grandchildren along with 9 of their spouses, 2 fiance's, and several long time significant others; and 14 great grandchildren. Also left to cherish her memory is sister Doris Helmrichs and brother Lee (Irene) Hinman; sisters in law, Dawn Cables and Mary Ellen Thornton; and brother in law James Dale. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Eugene Thornton, grandsons David and Tyler Thornton, son-in law Richard Weight, mother Dorothy Danford Hinman, father Howard Hinman, and stepmother Mary Hinman, brothers Jim, Edwin, Almon, Paul and Leland Hinman, Brothers-in laws Marvin Helmrichs, Jim Thornton, Clayton (Mike) Thornton, Keith Thornton, Sylvan Torkelson, and Tom Cables. Sisters-in-laws Ramona Hinman, Agnes (Dot) Hinman, Peg Hinman, Nancy Hinman, Mary Torkelson, Beverly Dale, Faye Thornton, Joeann Thornton, and Brenda Thornton, and other family members and friends.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 10 from 9:00 am until the time of a Funeral mass at 11:00 am all at St. James the Lesser Catholic Church, 830 East Veterans Way, Mukwonago. Father Denny will officiate a private interment at Oak Knoll Cemetery on Monday January 12.
Memorial Donations can be made in Lila's memory to St. James the Lesser Catholic Church.
