Eldon L. Thies, 79, of Winside, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.
Services will be held Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Winside. The Rev. Deb Copple and the Rev. Warren Ueckert will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winside with family present. Burial with military rites will be in Pleasantview Cemetery at Winside.
Memorials may be directed to the Winside Fire and Rescue department and the Winside American Legion.
Eldon Leroy Thies was born Sept. 15, 1936 on a farm near Pilger to Henry William and Ida Marie (Becker) Thies. He served in the United States Army from Dec. 3, 1954 to Nov. 24, 1956. Eldon married Eva Mae Wills on Aug. 25, 1957 at the United Methodist Church in Winside. The couple farmed all of their married life, first on a farm near Beemer for about six months, and then northwest of Winside. Eldon was a member of the American Legion, where he served as Commander.
Survivors include his children, Dwayne (Diane) Thies of Hoskins, Lori Thies of Lyman, S.C., Linda (Scott) Mattson of Pierce, and John (Nancy) Thies of Winside; 11 grandchildren, Joshua (Angie) Mattson, Cody Mattson, Amanda Menke, Abbie Thies, Alyssa Thies, Jesse (Jenny) Thies, Christopher Thies, Ethan Thies, Nazya Thies, Emily Sindelar, and Alec Sindelar; seven great-grandchildren; special family in South Carolina; sister, Armeda Wascher of Omaha; brother, Gilbert Thies of Winside; and brother-in-law, Herbert (Arlene) Wills of Winside; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Eva in 2013; brothers, Virgil Thies, Arland Thies, and Alvin Thies; and one sister, Ellen Renner.
Honorary pallbearers will be Eldon and Eva’s granddaughters, great-grandchildren, and friends, Amanda Menke, Abbie Thies, Alyssa Thies, Nazya Thies, Emily Sindelar, John Mangels, David (Buck) Owens and Bill Burris.
Active pallbearers will be Eldon and Eva’s grandsons and neighbor, Joshua Mattson, Cody Mattson, Jesse Thies, Christopher Thies, Ethan Thies, Alec Sindelar and Robbie Harmeier.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
