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Last modified: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 4:19 PM CDT

Thomas L. Thiel, 50

Thomas L. Thiel, 50, Wahpeton, N.D., died Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, at his residence under the care of Riveredge Hospice, Breckenridge, Minn.

A memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 23 at St. John’s Catholic Church, Wahpeton with the Rev. Dale Lagodinski as celebrant.

A gathering of relatives and friends will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday until time of service at the church.

Burial will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, Mooreton, N.D.

Military Honors will be conducted by the Hafner-Ross-Miller American Legion Post No. 20 and the Woody Keeble VFW Post No. 4324, Wahpeton and “Members of the ND Military Funeral Honors.”

Thomas LeRoy Thiel was born on Sept. 10, 1959, at Breckenridge, to Gordon and Irene (Harth) Thiel. He attended St. John’s School and graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1977. He worked for Rick’s Electric until he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1981. He married Lori Coyle on March 12, 1982. The couple resided in California until he was honorably discharged in 1984.

He worked at Valley Lake Boys Home while attending North Dakota State College of Science where he earned degrees in electronics and computer programming and technology.

Tom worked for Red River Valley & Western Railroad for several years. He also worked for the Computer Place. In later years, he repaired computers at his home.

He was a life-member of the Hafner-Miller-Ross American Legion Post No. 20. He loved to play his guitar and in his earlier years played bass guitar for several local bands. He enjoyed playing with his grandchildren and sharing toys with them.

Tom is survived by: his children, Sherain (Grant) Fowler, Washington, D.C., Nikki Thiel – James Stahl, Minot, N.D., twins, Joseph (Michelle) Thiel, Minot, N.D., and Mike Thiel, Wahpeton, and Tom’s best friend,George; grandchildren, Gavin Thiel, Aiden Stahl, and Mia, Joe Jr., and Jayla Thiel, and Brooke and Ethan Fowler; his parents, Gordon and Irene Thiel, Wahpeton; his sisters, Tammy (Rusty/Patrick) Teehan, Houston, Texas, Kathy (Mike) Matejcek, Wahpeton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by: his brother, Bill; grandparents, LeRoy and Dorothy (Willette) Thiel and George and Amy (Sommerness) Harth.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Thomas L. Thiel, 50