Joseph Thielen Jr.

Joseph George Thielen Jr. was born November 20, 1918, in Panama, Iowa, the son of Joseph George and Magdalena (Kenkel) Thielen. He lived in Panama and attended country school across the section from the family farm. He moved to Atlantic, Iowa in 1956, were he was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He has resided in Elkhorn, Nebraska, since 2007, where he passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at the Life Care Center of Elkhorn.

On September 21, 1937, Joe married Irene Anne Feldman; eight children were born to this union. Joe farmed for a short time, and worked in construction, making culverts. He was then employed by Wilson's Hybrid Company in Harlan, Iowa, as a seed corn salesman until his retirement in 1980.

He loved to visit, play cards and tell stories. After moving to the Life Care Center, one of his favorite pastimes was to go for a ride in the car and stop for a Runza Hamburger. Most of all he loved his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joe is survived by his children, Judy (Ron) Just of Atlantic, Iowa, Jerry (Felicia) Thielen of Omaha, Nebraska, Cindy (Mike) Davies of Anamosa, Iowa, Lavonne (Blaine) Brown of Tallahassee, Florida, Phil (Mary Jo) Thielen of Omaha, Nebraska, Neil (Joanne) Thielen of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Roger Thielen of Omaha, Nebraska, and David (Becky) Thielen of Elkhorn, Nebraska; his grandsons, Kevin (Caryn), Doug (Lori) and Troy (Kelly) Just, Bryan (Jennifer) and Brandon Davies, Jeff (Kelli), Chad (Cynthia) and Jeremy Thielen, Greg (Sondra) and Curt (Brittany) Brown, Mike and Ryan Thielen; his granddaughters, Elizabeth Meyer, Jori Powers, Jenni (Dave) Holoch, Jill and Corrina Thielen; his sisters-in-law; Rose (Dave) Daley and Viola Durdon; brother-in-law Ray (Marge) Feldman; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene; his parents, Joseph and Magdalena Thielen; his brothers, Ray (Adeline), John and Bernard (Viola) Thielen; his sister, Clara Kelly; and his grandson, Casey Thielen; his sisters-in-law, Marie Kramer, Elvira Feldman, Lee Johnson and Helen Hennes; his brothers-in-law, Al Feldman, Frank Feldman, Joe Feldman and Ben (Dona) Feldman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, May 11, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic.

Burial will taken place in Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, May 10, 2009, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. with a Rosary service at 5:00 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.