Jack Thein, 82 of Carroll, died peacefully on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at his residence in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 16, 2014 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Con-Celebrants will be Fr. Ed Tiedeman, Fr. Timothy Johnson. Music will be by Kate Cuddy and the St. Lawrence Choir. Lector for the funeral mass will be Nate Brody. Gift Bearers will be Jack’s grandchildren. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Jack’s Golf Buddies, Rec. Center Friends, and Coffee Friends. Casket Bearers will be: Jim Auen, Dean Riesselman, Jim Riesberg, Mike Riesberg, Bob Shirbroun, and Kelly Fleskes. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 5 p.m. on Wednesday where there will be a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church at 10 a.m. on Thursday where visitation will resume until time of the funeral mass.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the Jack and Bonnie Thein Scholarship Fund at Kuemper Catholic Schools. Those wishing to mail a memorial, please direct to Sharp Funeral Home; c/o Jack and Bonnie Thein Scholarship Fund 226 W. 8th St. Carroll, IA 51401. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Jack’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
John (Jack) Francis Thein was born August 3, 1932, the son of Philip and Elisabeth (Schreck) Thein. He lived in Dedham during his childhood, with his family moving to Carroll when Jack was in 8th grade. He remained a life-long resident of Carroll. He graduated from Carroll High School in 1950 and served in the United States Air Force from 1951-1954. On July 30, 1955, he married Bonnie Riesberg at St. Augustine Church in Halbur. To this day, the hottest July 30 on record remains July 30, 1955. Jack worked for Farner-Bocken for 10 years and Hunt-Wesson Foods for 6 years. In 1969, he joined The Equitable of New York Insurance Company (now AXA-Equitable) and remained with the company until his retirement 2 years ago. He earned a place in the prestigious Equitable Hall of Fame.
He was an active member of St. Lawrence Church for over 50 years. He was a member of the American Legion and the American Legion Honor Guard for many years and served as the Legion Commander from 2011 to 2013. Most recently, Jack was elected as County Commander of the Legion. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a member of the Carroll Fire Department for over 35 years.
Jack played fast pitch softball for the Dedham Merchants for many years. Defensively, his duties were behind the plate as the team’s catcher. He was even a bigger force offensively and hit many home runs, including the famous shot heard around Carroll County, where he hit the corn bins in Dedham. He loved every minute of fast pitch softball and considered his teammates his best friends.
Jack served on the Kuemper Foundation Board and also served on the Carroll County Board of Supervisors.
Jack loved golf, fishing and spending time with his 7 grandchildren. He was extremely proud of the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. He loved people, and never met anyone he didn’t like. He enjoyed watching all sports, and was especially fond of Kuemper sports and Iowa State football and basketball. Jack possessed a wonderful sense of humor and had a joke for every occasion! He took great joy in making others happy.
Jack will be remembered for his sense of humor, his love for sports, including golf and fast pitch softball, and his deep love for church and community.
Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Bonnie of Carroll; a son, Scott and his wife Barbara of San Diego, CA; daughters: Lori Thein Brody of Mt. Horeb, WI; and Jill Thein-Nissenbaum and husband David of Middleton, WI, and 7 wonderful grandchildren: Andrew Thein; Nate, Louisa, Ben and Ethan Brody; Sophie and Maddie Nissenbaum; his sister Donna Riesselman and husband Leonard of Halbur; brother-in-law Donald Riesberg and wife Darlene of Halbur; sisters-in-law Shirley Fleskes and husband Jack of Highlands Ranch, CO, Charlene Manual of Anamosa, Virginia Walsh of Marblehead, MA, Carol Donovan and husband Dick of West Des Moines and Gloria Riesberg of Des Moines. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Phil and Elisabeth; his parents-in-law, Lawrence and Alvina Riesberg, a brother-in-law, Duane Riesberg, and a sister-in-law, Phyllis Riesberg.
