James Thielen

Jim Thielen, age 69, of Maple River, died Saturday, April 4, 2015 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Music will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir. Lectors for the funeral mass will be Shauna Nemetz and Jenny Harp. Gift Bearers will Justin and Eric Malcom. Eucharistic Minister will be Mickey Snyder. Casket Bearers will be: Eric Thielen, Mark Thielen Jr., Jason Gibson, Mike Harp, Gary Beyerink, and Steve Heinrichs. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery in Maple River with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 5 p.m. on Tuesday where there will be a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church at 10 a.m. on Wednesday where visitation will resume until time of the funeral mass. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carrol and online condolences may be left for Jim’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. Born on July 31, 1945 at Carroll, Iowa, James B. Thielen was the son of William and Marie (Grossman) Thielen. He attended Kuemper and Exira Schools before enlisting in the United States Air Force where he served from 1964 – 1968 until his honorable discharge. Jim returned to the Carroll area where he was employed at Reinart Service which he later purchased with Mike Mosman what today is Iowa Small Engine. On April 29, 1972 he was united in marriage to Joleen Bernholtz at St. Francis Church in Maple River by Rev. Richard Birdsall. Following their marriage they made their home in Maple River. Jim owned and operated Iowa Small Engine until 2008 when he sold the business. In his spare time Jim enjoyed fishing, gardening, cooking and baking. Anywhere Jim went he thoroughly enjoyed socializing with his many friends. His greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Jim was a lifelong member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Maple River. Jim is survived by his wife Joleen Thielen of Maple River; his daughters: Anna (Nathan) Malcom of Maple River and Allison Thielen of Carroll; his grandchildren: Justin, Eric and Kaitlyn Malcom and James and Ashley Wiskus; his siblings: Larry (Sandy) Thielen of Carroll, Duane (Barb) Thielen of Carroll, Mary Carol (Glenn) Collings of South Carolina, Jane (Pat) Neary of Omaha, NE, William (Barb) Thielen of Omaha, NE, Cheryl (Larry) Cruchelow of Carroll, Kathy “Tiger” Thielen of Omaha, and Mark (Anna) Thielen of Omaha, NE; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Mary (John) White of Carroll, John (Mary) Bernholtz of Carroll, and Jean (Steve) Gibson of Carroll; as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other extended relatives and many friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, William and Marie Thielen; his brother Tommy Lynn Thielen; and is parents-in-law, Laverne and Lillian Bernholtz.

James Thielen

July 31, 1945 - April 4, 2015