Ellen Lorine Thiele

Ellen L. Thiele, 91, of Waukon, IA, died Friday, February 24, 2017, at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, IA. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 28th, at 1:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating, and burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, both in Waukon. Friends may call one hour before the services on Tuesday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Ellen Lorine Thiele was born January 17, 1926, in Cresco, IA, the daughter of Barton and Gertrude (Soum) Warner. She graduated from Cresco High School in 1943, and graduated from Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA, in 1947, with a major in music education. After college Ellen moved to Waukon and taught music for one year. On September 3, 1948, she married Chester George Thiele at First Congregational Church in Cresco. She then worked as a special education aide at the Waukon Elementary School.

Ellen was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, where she served as a trustee, an elder, taught Sunday school, was the choir director for 26 years, and was the organist for many years. She also played the piano and organ for many funerals, was a member of Searchlight Club, and was a trustee for Robey Memorial Library. Ellen enjoyed dancing, reading, baking, making jam, and working crossword puzzles.

Survivors include her children: Ellen Lee Thiele, Gregory (Jerre Henthorn) Thiele, and Ronald (Cindy Mensink) Thiele, all of Waukon; two granddaughters: Stephanie (Christopher) Bjork and Samantha (Kyle Dahl) Thiele; and  two great-grandchildren: Madison and Cole Dahl. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Chester who died in 2006; and a brother Herman Warner.

Casketbearers are Kyle Dahl, Christopher Bjork, Greg Rasmussen, Corey and Christopher Mensink, and Julie Mayer.