Ervin Arnold Thielen

Ervin "Erv" Thielen, age 80 of New Munich, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, December 11, 2017 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 16 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Ervin Arnold Thielen was born July 22, 1937 in Freeport, Minnesota to Theodore and Olivia (Roering) Thielen. On October 7, 1961 he was united in marriage to Gloria Ann "Annie" Hiltner at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Together, Erv and Annie raised a family of ten children in New Munich. Erv worked as a butcher, purchasing Thielen Meats in 1972 from his father and owned the business until his retirement in 1999. Erv also drove school bus for many years and he delivered charter buses across the United States for New Flyer. Erv's retirement gave him more time to play cards, especially his favorite game SKAT, and he enjoyed trips to the casino. Erv knew how to work hard and loved to have fun when the work was finished.

Erv was member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich and St. Joseph's Men's Society. He was the mayor of New Munich for several terms, served on the New Munich Fire Department for 32 years, and did many years of service with the New Munich Lions.

Survivors include his wife, Gloria "Annie" Thielen of New Munich; children, Char (Maurice) Mayers of New Munich, Tim "Ox" (Kelly) Thielen of New Munich, Carol (Scott) Thelen of New Munich, Mary (Mark) Hasse of New Munich, John (Katie) Thielen of New Munich, Jim (Theresa) Thielen of St. Augusta, Peg (Kurt) Thelen of New Munich, Dean (Jenny) Thielen of St. Wendel, Robert (Tracey) Thielen of Sauk Centre, and Scott (Katrina) Thielen of Freeport; 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Lenore May of Cold Spring; many other relatives and friends.

Ervin was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Olivia Thielen; sisters, Ethel Felling, Lessie Schulzetenberg, Lucille Woods, and Alice Uphoff.