SUBMITTED by Theresa Streb, Lyons Public Library (29-Mar-2011)
Recently the Lyons Public Library received a generous donation in memory of Thomas Petrus, a former Lyons resident, who passed away last year. His daughter, Claire Petrus Voskuhl, donated the money in memory of her father who was a lifelong reader and learner. Mrs. Voskuhl, in a letter to the Library, stated that Thomas told her that "he used to sneak out of the house at night and go to the library because his father didn't approve of spending money on books."
Mr. Petrus went on to college in Ohio after leaving Lyons, received a degree in physical education and served in the Navy during World War II. Afterwards he continued college and received a Master's degree, married and had one daughter, Claire. In 1950 he and his family went to Japan for several years with the Department of the Army of Dependent Schools, then moved to Korea and returned to Japan in 1964 and stayed there until his retirement in 1973. Thomas and his wife, Millie, moved to Florida and after she passed away, he moved to Washington State with his daughter and son-in-law.
Through Mrs. Voskul's donation, the Library was able to purchase dozens of books in the following categories: children's fiction and non-fiction, children's audiobooks, teen fiction books and large print nonfiction books. The Library was also able to purchase a children's wooden book cubicle to store the children's board books in.
The memorial collection is on display by the Library's main entrance and will be there until the end of April. All of the items are available for checkout. A copy of Mr. Petrus's obituary is on display as well for those interested. For more information, please call the Lyons Public Library at (315) 946-9262 or emaillyonslibrary@owwl.org.
Mr. Petrus went on to college in Ohio after leaving Lyons, received a degree in physical education and served in the Navy during World War II. Afterwards he continued college and received a Master's degree, married and had one daughter, Claire. In 1950 he and his family went to Japan for several years with the Department of the Army of Dependent Schools, then moved to Korea and returned to Japan in 1964 and stayed there until his retirement in 1973. Thomas and his wife, Millie, moved to Florida and after she passed away, he moved to Washington State with his daughter and son-in-law.
Through Mrs. Voskul's donation, the Library was able to purchase dozens of books in the following categories: children's fiction and non-fiction, children's audiobooks, teen fiction books and large print nonfiction books. The Library was also able to purchase a children's wooden book cubicle to store the children's board books in.
The memorial collection is on display by the Library's main entrance and will be there until the end of April. All of the items are available for checkout. A copy of Mr. Petrus's obituary is on display as well for those interested. For more information, please call the Lyons Public Library at (315) 946-9262 or emaillyonslibrary@owwl.org.
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Anonymous Said,
Making donations in memoriam to our local institutions and charities in the future may be the best way to help them, while we are in bad economic times.
Posted on Tue Apr 05, 12:12:00 AM EDT