Stanley Thiele

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Stanley Herman Thiele, 94, of Marble Hill died peacefully early Sunday morning, Jan. 2, 2022, at Advance Nursing Home after a two-and-a-half-year battle with lymphoma.

He was born at Leopold, Missouri, July 18, 1927, to Fred and Lena Elfrink Thiele. He was a lifelong member of St. John's Catholic Church.

Stanley was an altar server, bell ringer and pumped the bellows for the church's pipe organ as a boy. He later began a career in construction and farming, but was called to serve in the Army. He completed basic training, but was soon discharged when World War II ended. He was later called to serve in the Korean War.

Before heading overseas, he and Rose Ann Seiler were married on March 17, 1951.

When Stanley stepped out onto the fire escape of his army barracks and got in trouble for it, he was sent to the kitchen for punishment, and became a cook for the rest of his military time. He told many stories of cooking in a tent for the soldiers, often with only a candle for light because of the closeness to the front line.

After returning from the war, Stanley and Rose Ann moved to the farm they had previously purchased. Besides farm work, Stanley also worked other jobs, including nailing at Lutesville (Missouri) Pallet and hauling milk and cream to town. His last job was as mail carrier from the Lutesville and Whitewater post offices, retiring in 1989. He then assisted in building houses and barns for family.

Stanley was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Council 5898, working many years in the kitchen serving countless dinners. He also ran the ice cream stand at the Leopold picnic for 50 years. He served on St. John's Parish Council and was active in Pro Life. He enjoyed playing baseball, both as a young man and as a grandpa.

Stanley was predeceased by his wife of 64 years on June 9, 2015; his parents; brothers, Edwin (Evelyn) and Glen (Ethel) Thiele; sisters, Irene (Alphonse) Stoverink, Hilda (Albert) Beussink and Helen Beussink; daughter-in-law, Debby Thiele; and granddaughter, Robin Thiele.

He is survived by a sister, Betty (Fred) Beussink; brother-in-law, Harold Beussink; and sister-in-law, Lorraine (Henry) Holzum. All of his 10 children survive: Ken (Kathy) Thiele of St. Charles, Missouri; Ivan Thiele of St. Joseph, Missouri; Wayne (Jackie) Thiele of Marble Hill; Mary (Lynn) McBride of Cape Girardeau; Nick (Brigitte) Thiele, Marcia (Steven) Upchurch and Ernie (Debbie) Thiele, all of Marble Hill; Annette (Tim) Wiseman of Leopold; Cathy (Mario) Nunez of Tallahassee, Florida; and Jeanne (Kevin) Forrester of Marble Hill. Stanley is also survived by 36 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Hutchings Funeral Chapel. The Knights of Columbus will lead the rosary at 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, with burial in the church cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John's Church.