Quilts of Valor

After Hours Program Sponsor: Diana Morrow

Joanne Thuente and Mary Engan will be sharing their experiences over the past ten years supporting the local Decorah chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

The National Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 with a dream by founder Catherine Roberts after seeing her son Nat, who was deployed in Iraq, battle with emotional trauma. She wrapped him in a quilt and his whole demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope. Her message was: Quilts equals Healing. Each state has its own cadre of volunteers who invest their skills and time to create the quilts. These quilts are presented to veterans and active service members as a tangible means of appreciation for their service, sacrifice, and valor. In May of 2025 the Foundation reached a milestone of when it presented quilt number 400,000. In Decorah, these quilts are presented during different times of the year to honor our local veterans and active service members.

Joanne Thuente lives in rural Decorah with her husband, Virgil. Thety are the parents of two grown children. She has always been interested in gardening, floral design, and sewing. After retiring in 2015 from Seed Savers Exchange as the database editor for 30 years she joined Decorah Quilts of Valor. She believes sewing quilts for veterans is a most gratifying hobby.

Mary Engan hails from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin and now lives west of Highlandville with her husband of 58 years. They have two daughters. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, she began the hobby of quilting after retiring as a third grade teacher at Mabel-Canton Elementary School. She learned of Decorah Quilts of Valor when her husband received his quilt. She decided to join the group in 2019 and considers their service and the presentation of quilts to local veterans to be most rewarding. Veterans have a very special place in her heart since her dad was killed during the invasion of Normandy shortly after her birth.

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