Ellen Thiele

Ellen L. Thiele, 91, of Waukon died Friday, February 24, 2017 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Funeral services were held Tuesday, February 28 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Ellen Lorine Thiele was born January 17, 1926 in Cresco, the daughter of Barton and Gertrude (Soum) Warner. She graduated from Cresco High School in 1943, and graduated from Grinnell College in Grinnell in 1947 with a major in music education. After college, Ellen moved to Waukon and taught music for one year.

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 and 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 were Kyle Dahl, Christopher Bjork, Greg Rasmussen, Corey and Christopher Mensink, and Julie Mayer. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.