Wilbert P. "Wil" Thiltgen 1920 - 2003

THILTGEN KYTE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/14/2014 at 22:16:26

Sioux City Journal
21 December 2003

Wilbert P. "Wil" Thiltgen, 83, of Sioux City died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003, at a Sioux City hospital of heart failure.

Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Merlin Schrad officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with a military honor guard conducted. Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 8:30 p.m., a rosary at 4 p.m. by the Catholic Daughters of America, a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., and a rosary and chalice service at 7:30 p.m. by the 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, all at Larkin Northside Funeral Home. The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 6:30 p.m. until after the service.

Wil was born Jan. 6, 1920, in Stickney, S.D. He was raised in Stickney and graduated from Stickney High School. He attended Notre Dame College in Mitchell, S.D., and graduated from Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, S.D. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, was commissioned as an officer and saw combat in the Pacific Theater.

He married Mary Kyte on Sept. 13, 1943, in Vermillion, S.D. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 13, 2003. Following his release from the service in 1944, he moved to Sioux City and was employed by Picker X-Ray Corp. During his 38 years with Picker, he was responsible for sales, installation and service. He ended his career with Picker as general manager of the Sioux City office. He retired in 1984.

Mr. Thiltgen was an active member of the Sioux City Engineers Club and Blessed Sacrament Parish, where he served as head usher for many years. He was an active sponsor of his children's activities while they attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Heelan High School. He was very active in the Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree, Epiphany Council 743 and the 4th Degree, Garrigan Assembly. He served as comptroller for the assembly for nine years and was a past grand knight for the 3rd Degree. One of his favorite activities was going to the cardiac rehab at Mercy Medical Center.

Survivors include his wife; two sons and their wives, John and Barbara of Tampa, Fla., and David and Cindy of Omaha, Neb.; two daughters and their husbands, Kathleen and James Moser of Omaha, and Therese and Thomas Tate of Van Wert, Ohio; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters.

Pallbearers will be Derek Tate, Aaron Moser, Sean Thiltgen, Bryon Thiltgen, Marvin Japel and Mick Watson. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Cassling, Ken Vetter, Ron Schuetz, Don Tudahope.

A memorial for charities has been established in his name.