Vernon S. Thies

Vernon S. Thies, 83, of Mapleton, Iowa passed away Sunday, November 13, 2022 at Maple Heights Nursing Home, Mapleton, Iowa.

A funeral service will be 10:00 A.M. Friday, November 18, 2022 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ute, Iowa with Reverend Nathan Peitsch, officiating. A recording of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Vernon’s obituary. Burial will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Mapleton, Iowa. A visitation will be 5:00-7:00 P.M. Thursday, November 17, 2022 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ute, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Vernon was born on a farm west of Ute, Iowa on March 13,1939 to Fritz and Ellen (Borcherdt) Thies. When he was 5, the family moved to a farm 6 miles north of Ute. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church, where in his earlier years enjoyed teaching Sunday School, served as secretary and as an usher. Vernon attended country school as well as Lutheran school in Ute, and then graduated in 1957 at Mapleton High School, where he enjoyed playing football. He was a member of the National Guard.  While farming with his father for a few years, Vernon met the love of his life, Evelyn Reed and they married on January 22, 1961. They moved to a farm 5 miles east of Mapleton, where he enjoyed farming for 49 years. Vernon and Evelyn were blessed with three children, Terry, Sheryl, and Douglas. In January 2010, a stroke disabled him from the life he loved. Vernon always said “I’ve never worked a day in my life, because I love what I do.”  September 2010 Vernon and Evelyn moved in to their current home in Mapleton.

Vernon enjoyed operating his D6 Caterpillar, raising cattle and hogs, and going to farm auctions looking for a bargain. He was a true “2nd Hand Rose” … he didn’t need new.  There weren’t too many things he couldn’t fix or repair, if not manufacture himself. Camping with the family, vacationing in Colorado, horseback riding, snowmobiling with friends and spending time with his family he thoroughly enjoyed. He was a gentleman, loved animals, his dogs and was a wonderful father, grand-father & husband.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Evelyn of almost 62 years; son, Terry (Dana) Thies, of Missouri, daughter, Sheryl (Steven) Dierenfield of Colorado, son, Douglas (Melanie) Thies of Wyoming; grandchildren, Nick (Jessica) Thies, Calihan (Carrie) Dierenfield, Courtney (Clinton) Thurston, Makalie Dierenfield, Anna Dierenfield, (friend Peter) Aiden and Ella Jean Thies, Kelsey Williams, Morgan (Zach) Shurtz; great-grandchildren, Jayben, Hunter, Leah, Easton, Hazel, and a new baby girl, Thies in January 2023; brother, Warren Thies; sister, Judy (Gary) Pohlman; brothers-in-law, Russ (Karla) Reed, Ken (Bev) Reed; sister-in-law, Florene Dean; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law, Clifford and Lillian Reed; brother-in-law, Larry Reed; sisters-in-law, Pat Thies and Barbara Thies and Laurie Petersen.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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