Anthony Nicholas THIELEN

THIELEN, WAWERS, STECHER, GRUNDSTROM, BLOMME, GLOWCZEWSKY, SIEREN, DUITSCHER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/6/2009 at 04:44:01

Anthony Nicholas Thielen, 92, of #1 Oak Ridge Rd., Ottumwa and formerly of Batavia, Iowa died at 1:23 a.m. April 4, 2009, at Hospice House. He was born April 29, 1916, to Mathias and Mary Magdalena (Wawers) Thielen, near Woolstock, Iowa. Tony was the sixth of nine children. He attended Woolstock Center School and worked on the family farm. As an adult he owned and farmed land near Clarion, Iowa. He worked for the Army Corps of Engineers to build Lake Mead in Hamilton County, worked construction for Sadler Construction, and worked for his brother, Joe at Wimpy’s Café in Eagle Grove. Tony enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and served from 1941 to 1945. He was a Sergeant with the Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) 377. He served with the commandos at Camp Gordon Johnson in Florida prior to being shipped to England. Tony was aboard ship off Omaha Beach and witnessed the invasion of Normandy. As infantry support, the AAA 377 fought its way through Germany and France. His unit got separated from their main force in Luxemburg, Germany and was re-assigned to General George Patton’s division. Tony received the Good Conduct medal, the European Theater Service medal, and the American Defense Service medal. Four of Tony’s brothers, Peter, Theodore, Joseph, and Raymond served with the United States military at the same time. Tony married Frances Stecher in 1946 in Eagle Grove. Following her death in 1976, Tony met and married Dorothy Grundstrom Blomme of Batavia, Iowa. With the marriage came Dorothy’s five children, Larry, Leo, Patty, Tom, and Jerry and their extended families. Tony and Dorothy enjoyed traveling and had the opportunity to participate in the Spirit of ’76 tour across parts of the United States, visit Alaska and Switzerland, and winter in Arizona for several years. Tony enjoyed playing cards and dominoes, and defeating the one-armed bandits. Tony belonged to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ottumwa, Arendt Bowlin Stubbs Post #83 American Legion in Hedrick and Knights of Columbus Council #1579 in Eagle Grove.

Tony is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of Ottumwa; sister, Betty Glowczewsky and sister-in-law, Myrt of Eagle Grove; his step-children and their spouses, Larry & Karen Blomme and Leo & Helen Blomme of Batavia, Patty & Mike Sieren of Keota, Tom & Di Blomme of St. Charles, Iowa, Jerry & Barb Blomme of Memphis, Missouri, 19 step-grandchildren, 28 step-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Tony was preceded in death by his parents and first wife; his brothers and 2 sisters-in-law Mathias & Isabelle, Peter, Theodore & Eleanor, John Francis, and Joseph; and brother-in-law, Joseph Glowczewsky; his brother and sister-in-law, Raymond & Martha Thielen; and his sister and brother-in-law, Coletta & Harold Duitscher. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 5 p.m. Monday. Mass Of Christian Burial will be said at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eagle Grove at 10 a.m. Wednesday with Father Nils Hernandez officiating. Burial will be at St. John’s Cemetery, Clarion, Iowa. Memorials can be made to Hospice, 312 E. Alta Vista, Ottumwa, American Legion Post 83, Hedrick, or St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ottumwa.

Foust Funeral Home, Eagle Grove, Iowa
http://www.funeralplan.com/foustfh/obits?id=164156