Thiel, William 1866 - 1906

THIEL, RINK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:26

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer May 11, 1906, FP, C4

Wm. Theil, a son-in-law of Peter Rink, died suddenly at his home in Nashua, Ia., on Tuesday, of heart failure, and the remains were brought to Cresco yesterday for interment. The funeral will take place at the German Catholic Church this morning.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer May 18, 1906, LP, C5

Wm. Thiel Accidently Killed.
The community was shocked Tuesday noon by the report that Wm. Thiel, who recently moved here from Albert Lea, had fatally shot himself in the saloon he had just purchased from Dan Shields.
The first report was that the shooting was done with suicidal intent, but later developements indicate that the shooting was accidental.
Mr. Thiel had been working around the saloon all forenoon cleaning pictures and fixing things up, as he expected to take formal possession of the business the next day, and a little before 12 o’clock he told Mr. Shields to go to his dinner, which Mr. Shields did. His bartender, Peter Rink, a brother-in-law, also went home a few minutes later leaving Mr. Thiel alone in the saloon and it was while alone, between 12 and 12:20 that the shooting occurred. Mr. Shields returned about 12:20 and found Mr. Thiel lying behind the bar with a gaping bullet wound in his temple, in an unconscious condition. Others came in right after Mr. Shields, and Dr. Stuart was called and remained with the injured man until death which occurred about 2:20. He never regained consciousness and the manner in which the gun was discharged will never be known. The revolver was a 32-caliber, and Mr. Shields had noticed it in a drawer behind the bar that morning, and it is supposed he took it out for some purpose and it was accidently discharged with the above result.
His financial affairs are all in good condition and his family relations very pleasant. He had been in good spirits all morning and the interest he displayed in planning his work for the business he had purchased would dispel any thought of self-destruction. He was a man who never drank to excess and had not tasted liquor that day.
Coroner O. M. Landon was summoned from New Hampton and at 7 p. m. an inquest was held, the jury composed of B. T. McNeil, L. A. Bucklin and G. E. Ellison, bringing in a verdict of accidental death. The testimony of Dr. Stuart, Dan Shields, John Kannengeiser and Peter Rink was taken and all tended to show that deceased was in his right mind and that there was nothing to indicate a motive for suicide.
Deceased came here with his wife from Albert Lea about th{r}ee weeks ago and, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Peter Rink, of Germania, purchased Dan Shields’ saloon. The two families occupy the Baker property on south Main street. He was a man of genial appearance and pleasing ways.
The body was removed to the home late that evening, and accompanied by the bereaved wife and her brother, Peter Rink, was taken to Ionia, from which point the remains were shipped to Cresco for burial, that place being the former home of Mrs. Thiel. The funeral was held from the Catholic church on Friday morning.—Nashua Reporter.

Transcriber's Note: His gravestone in Calvary Cresco Cemetery shows he was born February 24, 1866 and died May 8, 1906.

Calvary Cresco Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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