Emil Reimer Thietje, Jr.

THEITJE, WILKENS, PECK, WILSON, SEIBERLING

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 12/28/2016 at 23:29:32

OBITUARY EMIL THIETJE, JR.

Emil Reimer Thietje, Jr., son of Emil and Rose Wilkens Thietje, was born Febrary 14, 1936 at Hartley, Iowa. He received his grade school educa­tion at the Waterford No. 3 country school in Clay County near Everly, His high school years were spent at Everly and on a farm near Mclntire, Iowa where he was a member of the graduating class of 1954. He was baptized and joined the Methodist Church there.

On January 26, 1955 he joined the U. S. Air Force, being stationed at the McChord Air Base at Tacoma, Washington where he spent the major part of his time while in service, serving as a chaplain's assistant. On Sept. 5, 1958 he received his honorable discharge.

For three years he attended the College of Puget Sound in Washington and then spent his final year of college at Drake University in Des Moines, be­ing a member of the 1961 grad­uating class. After this he spent two more years of post graduate work at Purdue Uni­versity and received his Mas­ter's Degree in 1963. He was a member of the Sierra Club while teaching in California.

He was an instructor for two years at San Diego State and then began teaching at Haile Selassie University, Ethiopia in Africa this past September. Following a serious car accident, he passed away on Thursday, February 17th in Ethiopia.

Preceding him in death were his father in October of 1960; one infant brother and an infant sister.

He leaves to mourn his passing his mother, Mrs. Rose Thietje of Hartley; three sisters, Mrs. Martin Peck (Ruth Ann) of Fairfield, Iowa, Mrs. Wesley Wilson (Rose Marie) of Sheldon, Iowa and Mrs. Lowell Seiberling (Betty Jean) of Kasson, Minn.; four nieces, seven nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 1 at the Methodist church, Rev. Keith Scott officiating. Pallbearers were Charles Cooper, Charles Corbin, Raymond Schenck, Dale Sherrill, Walter Sherrill, Jr., and Kenneth Nelson.

Interment was made in Pleasant View cemetery with the Baumgarten Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The American Flag was presented to Mrs. Thietje by Chaplain Hobart Putnam of Arthur W. Kirchoff Post No. 288.

Memorial services were held at Haile Selassie University before the deceased was flown to the United States. An honor guard, the flag flown at half mast and the student body paid tribute to his memory.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, Mar 9, 1967, p2