More detail on this person: Col. Jerry Michael
Thiels (Ret. US ARMY)
A Mass of Christian Burial for Col. Jerry Michael
Thiels will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, June
21, 2013 at St. Rita Catholic Church with Rev.
Bruce Miller officiating. Interment will follow
with full military honors in Alexandria Memorial
Gardens, Woodworth, under the direction of John
Kramer & Son.
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 20, 2013 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30
a.m. Friday, June 21, 2013 at John Kramer & Son.
A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m.
Thursday in the chapel of John Kramer & Son with
Rev. Steve Brandow officiating.
Col. Jerry Michael Thiels, age 72, of Pineville,
passed away Monday June 17, 2013 at the
Alexandria Veterans Administration Medical Center.
He is preceded in death by the mother of his
children, Ruthie Ann Thiels; parents, Lawrence and
Eva Dunn Thiels; nephew, Michael Dewayne Thiels;
infant nephew, James Malcolm Thiels; niece,
Lorette Thiels; and nephew, Arick Thiels.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Lynn Ducote Thiels;
children, Todd M. Thiels and fiance' Donna of
Turkey Creek, Tim Thiels (Tamara) of Brandon, MS,
Rebecca Dunn (Bobby) of Van Buren, AR; Wendy
Moreau (David) of Pineville, Misty Bishop (Joe) of
Pineville; six siblings, Larry R. Thiels (Ann) of
Walker, Rita O'Quinn (Danny) of Lecompte, Nita
Poole (John) of Zachary, Ginger Thiels of Zachary,
Tommy Thiels (Becky) of Monroe, and Fran Swain
(Gary) of Elmer; 10 grandchildren and 2 great
grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, family,
and friends.
Jerry Michael Thiels was born on November 11,
1940 in Alexandria to Lawrence and Eva Thiels. He
was the second of seven children. He attended Our
Lady of Prompt Succor Elementary School and
graduated from Menard Memorial High School in
1958. He went on to graduate from Northwestern
State College in 1962. While at Northwestern, he
was selected as one of the Top Ten Young Men in
America under President Lyndon B. Johnson. After
graduation, he joined the United States Army as an
Aviation Officer flying combat missions in Huey
and Cobra helicopters. He served two tours of duty
in Vietnam and was stationed in Seoul, South
Korea as well as Ft. Hood and Ft. Polk. During his
tour in Vietnam, his aircraft were hit over two
thousand times and he was shot down nine times.
While serving his country, he earned the National
Defense Service Medal, Army Aviator Badge, Air
Medal (60th Award), Armed Forces Expeditionary
Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (2OLC), Vietnam
Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Valorous
Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army
Commendation Medal (3OLC), Air Medal with V
Device, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with
Palm (2d Award).
After retiring in 1985, he served as Executive
Director of Esler Air Field for fifteen years. He
owned and operated Windswept Cattle Ranch in
Lecompte, LA, where he raised Belgian Blue cattle.
He was an active member of the Cattlemen's
Association and the Border Collie Association, and
President of the Louisiana Belgian American Club.
Pallbearers honored to serve at Mass are: Tommy
Thiels, John Poole, Bobby Dunn, Jason Thiels,
Jeremy Thiels, and Joey Thiels.
Honorary Pallbearers are Danny O'Quinn, Ray
Bailey, and Maj. Gen. Dennis Kenneally.
Special Thanks to the doctors and staff of the VA
Medical Center Alzheimer's Unit as well as Doctor
Erlinda Tan and her staff at the Palliative Care
Unit. Jerry's family appreciates the dedication
and care given to him and the many Veterans they
serve.
Memorials may be made to the Louisiana
Alzheimer's Association , 910 Pierremont Road,
Ste. 410, Shreveport, LA 71106, (318) 861-8680.
Notes of condolence may be sent to the family
online at KramerFunerals@aol.com
Published in The Town Talk on June 19, 2013
This information was last updated 12/03/2012
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