Leonard Thien 1915-1968

THIEN, BRADY, CLARK

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2016 at 08:54:31

4 July 1968 - The North Cedar Press

Leonard George Thien, 53, was electrocuted shortly before 8 a.m. July 1 when he touched a 2,400 volt electric line while picking cherries at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Thien, 309 East Fourth street.

Thien had placed an aluminum extension ladder against a cherry tree on the east side of the house and was apparently picking cherries when he either fell or turned and grabbed an electric line. The ladder acted as a conductor to the ground, which was wet with dew and recent rains.

A witness to the accident saw a flash of light descend the ladder. Thien did not fall from the ladder immediately and the first effort to reach him resulted in a strong shock to the person who touched the ladder.

A call was made to the Tipton fire department for help and during this time Thien fell from the ladder.

Thien was pronounced dead by Dr. Walter Kopsa, Cedar county medical examiner, after he and Ron Rife had worked for more than a half hour in an effort to revive Thien. Emergency equipment of the Tipton fire department was used and Rife gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Services for Thien will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3 at the Dye Funeral home. Burial will be in the Tipton Masonic cemetery with military services at the graveside.

The Rev. Ernest Lauer is in charge of services. Mrs. Arnold Swan is organist and Donald Thompson is vocalist. Casket-bearers are Gus Stakey, Wilbur Conrad, Melvin Thien, Marvin Muesing, Norbert Ebert and Hermann Onken. Mrs. Henry Mente and Mrs. William Dinse are in charge of flowers.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. George Thien, he was born at Tipton Feb. 11, 1915. He spent all of his life, with the exception of military services, in the Tipton area. He never married.

Mr. Thien lived with his parents and was active in the family farming.

He was a member of the United Church of Christ.

During World War II he served in the army from Feb. 18, 1941 to June 25, 1945 and took part in 8 campaigns including the Tunisian, Algerian, French Moracco, Sicilian, Naples-Foggia, Southern France and Central Europe.

He went overseas in October, 1943, as a member of the 34th Inf. Division and served as an ammunition carrier with the field artillery. He was discharged at Fort Sheridan, Ill. as a private first class.

Thien was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in Italy Feb. 15, 1943.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Thien, 4 brothers, Lester W., Leo A. and Lloyd R., all of Tipton and Lorence C., Clarence; 2 sisters, Mrs. Lilly Brady, Denver, Colo. and Mrs. Lou Clark, Charleston, S.C., and 15 nieces.