Obituary: Theodora H. (Herfurth) Kubly - Class of 1933

MADISON - Theodora H. Kubly, age 87, passed away peacefully on the evening of Saturday, May 3, 2003, with her daughter and son-in-law at her side. She was born in Madison on Nov. 20, 1915, to the late Genevieve Gorst Herfurth and Theodore Herfurth, Jr., whose family was among the early residents of the city. Christened Jean Theodora, she was known to all as Teddy. She attended the Lincoln Elementary School directly across from her family home on Gorham Street and in February 1933 she graduated from Central High School where she was salutatorian of her class. Teddy was active in the Girl Scout movement, which had been founded in 1912. She was a member of Troop #1 (Lincoln School) and at age 17 became the troops leader. Subsequently she helped form Troop #2 at Lakewood School and continued her involvement in scouting while her children were young. Teddy graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1937 with a degree in Art Education. While at the university, she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. On Feb. 3, 1938, Theodora married Harold Edward Kube Kubly, another Madison native. Other than during the war years when Kubes V-12 Naval duties took them to Louisville Ky., Plattsburgh NY, and South Bend Ind., and a sabbatical spent in Munich, Germany in 1954-55, Teddy and Harold lived in Madison, where Dr. Kubly was a professor at the university. Over the years Teddy was active in a variety of community organizations. She became a member of Attic Angels in 1954, where she was head of the Expansion Committee for the Segoe Road facility. She was on the Board of the UW-YWCA focusing on membership and finance. Teddy was membership chairman for the University League, significantly increasing affiliation during her tenure. Teddy also served as deacon at Christ Presbyterian Church, where she was a member for 75 years. Among the other philanthropic, civic, and cultural organizations with which she was worked were several centered on assisting international students with their stay in Madison: the American Field Service, the Experiment in International Living, the Madison Friends of International Students, and the Briuingham Viking Organization. Both Teddy and Kube delighted in entertaining foreign students in their home. Teddy had a profound love of the natural world and took great joy from working in her garden and in spending time at the family summer cottage on Lake Mendota. Another interest was Native Americans. She and Harold often vacationed in the Southwest and over the years Teddy became very knowledgeable about Native American arts and crafts. They also enjoyed traveling in Europe, where, whenever possible, they would renew friendships made over the years. Teddy was a gentle, genial, and generous soul. Her youthful, happy outlook on life made her a delight to people of all ages and backgrounds. Her sense of humor was keen and she kept it to the end. She will be missed by the many people whose life she touched. Teddy is lovingly survived by her daughter, Beth Margaret Kubly; and her son-in-law, Dr. James Weeks of Madison and State College, Pa. She is further survived by Jean McWilliams Peters (Mrs. Henry) and family of Madison, Jean Lucia Brechier of Los Angeles; Lucia DeGroot (David) Tyler of Trumansburg, NY, Daniel Kubly and family of Middleton, and Robert Kubly of Madison. Her parents; her sisters, Eleanor Herfurth and Virginia Marie Herfurth; her husband; and her beloved son, Vincent Frederick preceded her in death. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2003, at CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 944 E. Gorham Street, followed by a celebration of her life with family and friends. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Madison Community Foundation, P.O. Box 5010, Madison WI 53705; the Library and Archives Endowment of the Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State St., Madison WI 53706; or the organization of ones choice. Afterglow I'd like the memory of me To be a happy one. Id like to leave an afterglow 0f smiles when life is done. Id like to leave an echo Whispering softly down the ways 0f happy times, laughing times And bright, sunny days. Id like the tears of those who grieve To dry before the sun 0f happy memories that I leave When life is done. Cress Funeral Service 3610 Speedway Road 608-238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on May 11, 2003