08/31/2026
WHO AM I? – THE REVEAL
I am Mathilda “Tilly” Krueger Lamping.
Born in Neenah on August 21, 1869, I spent my life answering a simple calling: to care for others.
My journey took me from the classrooms of Neenah to Chicago’s busiest hospitals, from La Crosse and Detroit to Columbia University, the mountains of North Carolina, the battlefields of Serbia during World War I, and even the palace gardens of Queen Sophia of Greece.
I survived typhus while caring for wounded soldiers, established Waco, Texas’s first public health clinic, and was later reunited with the young medical student who had patiently waited nearly three decades to marry me—Dr. Thomas Lamping.
In 1933, I had the honor of reuniting many of the Red Cross nurses I had supervised in Serbia, where we were honored by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt at Chicago’s Century of Progress World’s Fair.
After many years away, I returned home to Neenah in 1944. Following my husband’s death, I spent my remaining years among family and lifelong friends—including my dear childhood friend, Jessie.
My story reminds us that history is not only written by generals and presidents. Sometimes it is written by a nurse from Neenah who quietly answered every call to serve.
A Special Thank You
The story of Mathilda “Tilly” Krueger Lamping has been brought to life through historical information generously shared by the Neenah Historical Society. We are incredibly grateful for their work preserving and sharing the stories of the people who helped shape our communities.
It is through organizations like the Neenah Historical Society—and the dedication of those who preserve our local history—that remarkable stories like Tilly’s are not forgotten.
Thank you for following Tilly’s story with us over the past five weeks.
Were you able to guess her identity before today’s reveal?
