John Matthew Thielen

John Matthew Thielen, the son of Jacob and Mildred (Dimick) Thielen, was born September 21, 1931, in Audubon County near Exira, Iowa, and died May 20, 2015, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 83 years, 7 months, and 29 days.
John was baptized and confirmed at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, Iowa. He attended the Exira Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1950. John studied Ag Business and also played baseball at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa before returning to Exira and helped operate the family farm.
On September 8, 1952, he was united in marriage to Joann Bills at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, Iowa. Four children Mike, Susan, Scott, and Paul were born to this union. John grew row crops and raised livestock his entire life finally retiring in 2014 due to his failing health.
John was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, Iowa. One of his favorite hobbies was trading, buying, and selling farmland. He loved fishing in his pond and he and Marilyn enjoyed their annual hayride in the fall. John was an avid Iowa State fan and enjoyed watching all types of sports. He loved to travel by bus and took many trips to interesting places across the United States.
Preceding him in death were his parents and his sister Colleen Totusek.
Survivors include his children Mike and wife Terri Thielen of Atlantic, Iowa, Susan and husband Ken Weber of Avoca, Iowa, Scott and Terri C. Thielen of Atlantic, Iowa, and Paul and wife Tamra Thielen of Griswold, Iowa; his special companion Marilyn Winnett of Coon Rapids, Iowa; his grandchildren Nathan Thielen of Atlantic, Iowa, Christopher and wife Jennifer Weber of Bellevue, Nebraska, Katie and husband Adam Goshorn of Shelby, Iowa, Matthew Thielen and Andrew Thielen both of Atlantic, Iowa, Zac and wife Tatiana Thielen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Paige and husband Tyler Manning of Graettinger, Iowa; 14 great grandchildren; his sister Charlotte Thielen of Murrieta, California; his brother-in-law Paul Totusek of Everett, Washington; his nieces Connie Snyder of Seattle, Washington, Debbie Rosner of Atlantic, Iowa; his nephew Jeff Totusek of Omaha, Nebraska, Julie Dvorak who lived with them and thought of them as her parents, other relatives and many friends.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted by Father Chori Seraiah, of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa, on Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 10:30 A.M. at The Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, Iowa. Interment will be in the Oakfield Cemetery east of Brayton, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Nathan Thielen, Zac Thielen, Matthew Thielen, Andrew Thielen, Chris Weber, Adam Goshorn, and Tyler Manning. The family will meet with friends Friday evening at 5:00 P.M. with a rosary conducted by Father Emmanuel Agwuoke C.S.Sp., of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, at 7:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. The family prefers memorials to the Exira Fire Department or the Brayton Fire Department.