Robert E. Thiel, 84

November 30, 2013

Robert E. Thiel, 84, of Lititz, died peacefully on Saturday, November 30, 2013, at his residence. He was born April 29, 1929 in Evanston IL, the son of the late Ernest and Dorothy (Baine) Thiel.
He lived in La Grange Park IL for most of his school years. After graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration from Northwestern University in 1951, Bob served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War for 2 years from 1952 to 1954. His first civilian job was with Quaker Oats Company, Chicago IL as a management production trainee at their St. Joseph MO plant starting in May 1954.
Bob met Joan Marie Maiers of La Grange IL on Labor Day 1948, at St. Francis Xavier Church picnic prior to her junior year at Nazareth Academy. They were married on Oct. 16, 1954, 6 months after Bob’s Korean War tour ended. Bob and Joan lived in 11 locations including St. Joseph, Chicago, Minneapolis, Nashville TN, Cedar Rapids and Clinton IA and in Newport, VT. The family came to Lititz in May 1977.
He was plant manager at the Continental Grain Company-Wayne Feeds in Lancaster from 1977 thru 1995. After 42 years, Bob retired from the grain milling business. Joan and Bob loved driving anywhere. They visited relatives and friends throughout the far West and Midwest, with many trips back to Newport and all the rest of the New England states. It did not take much of a hint for them to hit the road.
He was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Lititz and enjoyed the activities and fellowship of the Silver Liners, the seniors’ club. Bob also belonged to the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. For 6 years he and Joan volunteered weekly delivering Meals on Wheels. Bob was Joan’s faithful daily caregiver for 10 years before she passed away on February 19, 2012. They then shared 57 years of marriage. Bob missed Joan every day but now they are together again.
He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. The closeness of his family brought him great joy. When his sons were young, Bob encouraged them in their scouting and sports activities and in their studies. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. In October 2004, he and Joan celebrated their 50th anniversary with their family.
He is survived by 4 sons: John of Lititz, Peter and his wife Jill O’Brien of Peaks Island ME, Brian and his wife Joanne Schwab of Missouri City TX and Gordon and his wife Jennifer Guyette of Cherry Hill NJ; 3 grandchildren: Caitlin, Robert and Henry; 5 sisters: Catherine Quigg of Barrington IL, Dorothy Lafeber of Hendersonville NC, Barbara Keoughan of Skillman NJ, Patricia Brennan of Lake Forest IL and Virginia Thiel of Hendersonville NC and a brother Ernest Thiel Jr. of Salida CO. Besides his wife Joan, he was also predeceased by his parents and by his daughter Jeanne.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 11 AM at St. James Catholic Church 505 Woodcrest Avenue Lititz, PA with The Rev. James O’Blaney C.Ss.R., as Celebrant. Viewing will be from 6-8 PM on Tuesday at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 3110 Lititz Pike and again at the church on Wednesday from 10-11 AM. Interment will be in Longenecker Cemetery, Warwick Twp. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice & Community Care, PO Box 4125, Lancaster PA 17604-4125.