Obituary     

Lenus ThelenLenus Edward “Leny” Thelen 1932 - 2012

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, Carroll, Iowa, January 25, 2012

Lenus “Leny” Edward Thelen, 79, of Carroll, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll with Father Timothy Johnson and Father Peter Nguyen concelebrating. Friends may call at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll after 3:30 p.m. Thursday. There will be a rosary at 4 p.m. and a Christian wake service at 7 p.m. by the parish. Visitation will resume at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in St. Bernard’s Cemetery at Breda.

Organist will be Barb McDermott, and John Wagner will sing as will the Holy Spirit Choir. Lector will be Carmen Ludwig. Gift bearers will be grandchildren Alena Thelen, Melinda Thelen, Sydney Thelen, Emerson Thelen, Natasha Thelen and Carson Thelen. Mass servers will be Brandon Baumhover and Elise Berg. Casket bearers will be Bryan Neary, Brandon Neary, Leigh Neary, Nathan Thelen, Wes Thelen, Matt Thelen and Jordan Thelen.

A memorial fund has been established in Leny’s name, and memorials may be left at the church.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for the family at http://www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.

Born on April 3, 1932 at Breda, he was a son of Math and Philomena (Boes) Thelen. Leny grew up in Breda and attended St. Bernard’s grade school as a boy and graduated from St. Bernard’s High School in 1949.

He was married to Jean Schelle on July 2, 1951 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda with Father J.P. Hausman as celebrant. The Thelens have lived in Carroll since 1961.

Leny was a longstanding and loyal employee of Farner - Bocken Co. He was personally hired by Bill Farner, founder and president of the company, and worked in the beverage sales department for over 42 years, retiring in 2004.

In his spare time he enjoyed fishing and was well known as one of the most avid fishermen in the area. Leny was always interested in showing others the art of fishing, and he taught many people how to fish. He also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, hunting and spending time with his family.

He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church where he was a member of the Men’s Club and served as an usher for many years. He was also a member of Carroll Knights of Columbus.

Surviving are his wife Jean of Carroll; two daughters: Shirley Neary and her husband Dan of Omaha, Neb., and Karen Phillips and her husband Jim of Carroll, four sons: Ed Thelen and his wife Linda of Spirit Lake, Marty Thelen and his wife Sue of Carroll, Rob Thelen of Carroll, and Tony Thelen and his wife Sheila of Des Moines; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; four step grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and the following brothers and sisters: Elsie Hausman of Carroll, Merlin Thelen and his wife Lois of Marble Falls, Texas, Lois Vogt and her husband Dennis of Omaha, Neb., Myra Stangl and her husband Don of Carroll, Janet Overgaard and her husband Al of North Carolina, Allen Thelen and his wife Louella of Carroll, Wayne Thelen and his wife Sarah of Marble Falls, Texas, Delmar Thelen of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Nancy Pudenz and her husband Dave of Auburn; and a sister-in- law Louise Thelen of Sioux City.

Lenus was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Roger and Delmar and his wife Barb Thelen, infant sister Linda Thelen, a brother-in- law Bob Hausman, and his in-laws: Merlin Schelle, Wilmer (Bill) Schelle, Marita Schelle, Wayne Schelle, Phil Roets and Fred Kennebeck.

 

return to Obituary Index