Thomas Thiel

Thomas L. Thiel, 50, Wahpeton, ND, died Saturday, September 19, 2009, at his residence under the care of Riveredge Hospice, Breckenridge , MN . A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 23 at St. John’s Catholic Church, Wahpeton with Rev. Dale Lagodinski as celebrant. A gathering of relatives and friends will be held Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Inurnment will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery , Mooreton , ND . Military Honors will be conducted by the Hafner-Ross-Miller American Legion Post No. 20 and the Woody Keeble VFW Post No. 4324, Wahpeton and “Members of the ND Military Funeral Honors”.

Thomas LeRoy Thiel was born on September 10, 1959, at Breckenridge , MN to Gordon and Irene (Harth) Thiel. He attended St. John’s School and graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1977. He worked for Rick’s Electric until he joined the US Marine Corps in 1981. He married Lori Coyle on March 12, 1982. The couple resided in California until he was honorably discharged in 1984.

He worked at Valley Lake Boys Home while attending NDSCS where he earned degrees in Electronics and Computer Programming and Technology.

Tom worked for Red River Valley and Western Railroad for several years. He, also, worked for the Computer Place . In later years, he repaired computers in his home.

He was a life-member of the Hafner-Miller-Ross American Legion Post No. 20. He loved to play his guitar and in his earlier years played bass guitar for several local bands. He enjoyed playing with his grandchildren and sharing toys with them.

Tom is survived by his children, Sherain (Grant) Fowler, Washington, DC, Nikki Thiel – James Stahl, Minot, ND, twins, Joseph (Michelle) Thiel, Minot, ND, and Mike Thiel, his best friend George, Minot; grandchildren, Gavin Thiel, Aiden Stahl, and Mia, Joe, Jr., and Jayla Thiel, and Brooke and Ethan Fowler; his parents, Gordon and Irene Thiel, Wahpeton; his sisters, Tammy (Rusty/Patrick) Teehan, Houston, TX, Kathy (Mike) Matejcek, Wahpeton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Bill; grandparents, LeRoy and Dorothy (Willette) thiel and George and Amy (Sommerness) Harth.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND. Visit/sign our Guestbook at www.vertinmunson.com