Harold Thiel

Harold Arthur Thiel, of 317 E. Wausau Ave., Wausau, passed away September 26, 2011, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, under palliative care.

He was born in Ryegate, MT, July 8, 1916, the son of the late John Thiel, of Potter, WI, and Laura (Schmidt) Thiel, of New Holstein, WI; he was the last of a family of five brothers. He attended several one-room schools in Montana and California, before finishing elementary school in the Town of Stettin and graduating from Wausau Senior High School in 1934. On June 29, 1938, he was united in marriage to Mildred Reinke, his high school sweetheart, as she still was after 73 years of marriage.

His early youth was spent working in the family cheese factory where he learned the trade and earned his cheese maker's license. When World War II started he learned the welding trade and moved to Chicago with his family. There he worked in a defense plant, building heavy military equipment.

After the war, he and his family moved back to Wausau, where he and Mildred raised their children and enjoyed life together. After returning, he worked at the Wausau Iron Works for several years and went to work in the maintenance department at Kraft for three years. When his father retired, he went into partnership with his brother, Eldred, for nine years, operating the family cheese factory. He then decided to return to the maintenance department at Kraft for 18 years. During that time, he was awarded the honored Kraft Jade Ring award for his intuition in designing and fabricating labor- and time-saving equipment that made the shredding and packaging of parmesan cheese more efficient. He retired from Kraft in 1981 at the age of 65.

Harold and Mildred were early members of Christ Lutheran Church, Wausau. Harold volunteered his talents in woodworking, construction, and yardwork to build the church to what it is today. He enjoyed working in his yard, especially growing roses.

He will be missed by his family, of which he felt especially blessed and proud of, including his wife, Mildred; 4 children, Joyce (Ed) Lunkos, Mosinee, Gary (Tracy) Thiel, Milwaukee, Sharon (Gene) Bartelt, Athens, and Russell Thiel, Rib Mountain; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; son-in-law, Larry Lorbiecki; and other family and friends.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Diane Lorbiecki; and 4 brothers, Frederick, Alfred, Edwin, and Eldred.

On behalf of Harold's family, a sincere 'thank you' to all the doctors and staff at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Palliative Care Unit.

A funeral service celebrating Harold's life will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 30th, at Christ Lutheran Church. The Reverend David Wetmore will officiate. Family will receive visitors beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Burial will be private at Restlawn Memorial Park.