Cyril Nicholas Theisen entered his eternal home on January 31st, 2016, achieving the age of 90 years and 2 days. He passed away at his home at Bavarian Meadows in Remsen, Iowa surrounded by his family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, IA with Rev. William McCarthy officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen, IA. Graveside military honors will be conducted by V.F.W. Post 3328 and American Legion Post 220 of Remsen. Visitation with family present will be after 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. There will be a parish rosary at 5 p.m., a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus and Catholic Order of Foresters Rosary, all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen. Services have been entrusted to the Fisch Funeral Home & Monument of Remsen. Condolences may be sent online to www.fischfh.com.
Cyril was born in Farley, (bow your head) Iowa to John P. and Anna (Ruden) Theisen. Cyril was the middle child with 4 older siblings and 4 younger siblings. At the age of 6 weeks, he moved with his family on a train across the state, where his family settled on a farm 2 miles east of LeMars, Iowa. They moved 8 years later to a farm 2 miles east of Oyens, Iowa. This is where he walked the railroad tracks to school, uphill both ways. He graduated 8th grade from St. Catherine’s in Oyens and went “down east” to work on his aunt and uncle’s farm for a year. He started farming and on September 20, 1950 at the age of 25, was drafted for the Korean War. He was assigned to Tank Co 30th Infantry Regiment. He spent his military career at Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Benning, Georgia as a tank driving instructor. After his honorable discharge in 1952, he returned to farming at Oyens. He married the love of his life, Helen Schilmoeller on May 19, 1953. They farmed at Marcus for 3 years and then moved to a farm south of Remsen until their retirement in 1986. They moved into Remsen where Cyril spent his days enjoying the company of friends at the local coffee shops, gardening, and continuing to help out on the farm. Cyril was well known for his sense of humor, gift of gab and overall easygoing nature. Everyone was considered a friend. In November of 2015, Cyril and Helen moved into Bavarian Meadows assisted living where they instantly enjoyed new friendships.
Cyril was a 62 year member of the Knights of Columbus, 50 year member of Catholic Order of Foresters, 50 year member of the American Legion and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen. He served on the Plymouth County Zoning Commission.
Left to cherish his memory, his wife of 62 years, Helen, his 8 children: Jeanne (Duane) Sanow of Remsen, Kathy (Steven) Pittmann of Kingsley, Ron (Sue) Theisen of Remsen, Lisa (Jeff) Schiltz of Remsen, Bill and significant other, Donna Dickman of Remsen, Bob (Barb) Theisen of Remsen, Ann (Scott) McDonald of South Sioux City, Nebraska, and Lynn (Kurt) Mullins of South Sioux City, Nebraska. He has 25 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren, who called him “grandpa the great”. He is also survived by a sister, Rita McCarty of Spencer, Iowa, his in-laws, Joan Theisen Cronin of Marcus, Rita Theisen of Canby, Minnesota, Richard Henke of Cherokee, Iowa, Yvonne Theisen of Marcus, Iowa, Dick and Janiece Wurth of Remsen, Iowa and Dennis and Dianne Haupert of Shoddy Daisy, Tennessee.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his sisters - Therry Weiler and her husband Gib, Sally Henke, Shirley Gengler and her husband Al F. (Sonny) and Lois Theisen. Brothers, Elmer, Reynold, and Ivan Theisen and brother-in-law Dave McCarty. Also preceded in death by in-laws Wally and Vera Mae Nilles, Joe and Frannie Schilmoeller, Joe Cronin, Joe and Eileen Schueder.
The family would like to thank the staff at Bavarian Meadows, the home health girls, Rhonda, Sandy, Lisa and Kathy, the team from Hospice of Siouxland, and Dr. Steve Meis for all their wonderful care. You have all been a big part of our lives and we appreciate everything you have done for us