Eugene Thelen

Eugene L. Thelen passed from this life on December 25 (Christmas!) after 95 years. He was born November 26, 1920, to Arthur and Nora (Theis) Thelen of Fowler, MI. He and his wife Evelyn were farmers in Fowler, having raised the best crop of all: six loving children. Eugene and Evie were life-long members of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He had served as a Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus.

Eugene always had a wide smile, and a curiosity about all things dairy. He was a voracious reader of articles on human health and nutrition, and believed strongly in minerals and vitamins. He worked on the family dairy farm well into his 90s, driving a tractor or tinkering with something in the shop, long after the rest of us were inside with our feet up.

He was preceded in death by Evie in 2011 after 67 beautiful years of marriage, by brothers Wilbur and Joe, and by infant grandson John. He is survived by his children Alice (Kerm) Wheeler, Gordie (Ruth) Thelen, Jerry (Linda) Thelen, Joanie (Bob) Nelson, Mike (Denise) Thelen, and Brian (Rose) Thelen; 22 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren; his brother Bernard (Marilyn) Thelen; sisters Roseline Fedewa and Kathleen Simmon; and dozens of nieces and nephews.

He will be greatly missed, but we know that today he is discussing Holsteins with the Owner of "the cattle on a thousand hills" (Psalm 50:10).

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 AM Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler with Rev. Fr. Dennis Howard presiding. Burial will follow at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Tuesday at the funeral home with a rosary being prayed at 3 PM and a Vigil Service being prayed at 8 PM. The family is being served by Osgood Funeral Homes.