Bernard "Shorty" Thiel

Bernard “Shorty” Thiel, age 83, of Remsen, IA passed away Thursday, April 8, 2021 at Floyd Valley Health Care in Le Mars, IA.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, IA with Father William McCarthy officiating and Deacon Rick Roder assisting, masks are required in church.   Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen, IA.   Graveside military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 3328 and American Legion Post 220 of Remsen.  Visitation with family present will be 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday with a 5 p.m. rosary & prayer service at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.  Visitation will resume 1 hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Shorty was born on Feb. 5, 1938 in Remsen, IA the son of John (Jack) & Mary Lucille (Tracey) Thiel.  He was raised and educated in Remsen and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1956.  During grade school & high school Shorty worked several jobs.  Before graduation Shorty joined the Army Reserve in 1956.  After graduation he continued to work at Jack Thiel Repair and also drove school bus.

In Oct. 1958, he went on active duty and was sent to Fort Carson, CO.  He spent 13 months in Korea and 9 months in Fort Benning, GA.  He then returned to Remsen and worked at Jack Thiel, Inc. until March 1962 when he went to work at the Farmer’s Co-Op in Remsen until October 1964.  He then went to Nettelton Business Training in Sioux City and worked as an assistant clerk in the post office until Feb. 1968.  At that point he went to work for Remsen Roller Mill as a bookkeeper.  The Roller Mill sold out to the Farmer’s Co-Op in 1997.  Shorty remained employed at the Farmer’s Co-Op until retiring in Jan. 2004.

On Sept. 24, 1969 he married Ruth Ann (Gabel) Feeck in Colorado Springs, CO.  They had their marriage blessed at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen on April 14, 1982.  The couple resided in Remsen.  Ruth brought four children into the marriage.

Shorty was a life-long member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where he was an alter server as a child.  Shorty was a secretary/treasurer of the Remsen Chamber of Commerce for 18 years, served two years on St. Mary’s Parish Council and two terms on the Remsen Municipal Utility Board.  He had been a money counter for St. Mary’s Parish since 1987.  He also served several years on the St. Mary’s Cemetery Board.  He enjoyed storytelling, gardening, woodworking and music.

Survivors include, his step-daughter, Marlene Klein of Remsen; step-grandchildren, Steve (Mindy) Klein, Tracey (Chuck) Wurth, Tim (Mollie) Klein, Ryan (Melissa) Feeck, Jamie (Grant) Krienert, Jesse (Shelly) Pick, Rusty (Erica) Pick, Jodi (Brent) Lennon; several step-great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Mary Kay Thiel of Remsen; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceded in death by, his parents, his wife Ruth, step-children, Marilyn Feeck, Scott Feeck and Barbara (Feeck) Pick, four brothers, Marion Thiel, Robert Thiel, Daniel “Butch” (Florence) Thiel and John “Buck” Thiel, step-son-in-law, Donald Klein.

Casket bearers will be Chris, Matt, Mitch and Andy Thiel, Steve Klein and Chuck Wurth.