Obituaries & Guestbook

James “Jim” Thiel, age 63, of Sheboygan Falls, WI, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Monday, April 22, 2024 at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice after a 10 year courageous battle with cancer. Jim was born January 29th, 1961, in Sheboygan to Wilburt and Diane (Roerdink) Thiel. He was a 1979 graduate of Sheboygan North High School and went on to receive his journeyman electrician card. Jim worked as a journeyman electrician for K.W. Muth / Lear / IAC for over 30 years and then 10 years at Rockline Industries until his retirement in 2021due to his health. Although an electrician by trade, Jim was also a self-taught carpenter and handyman and could often be found doing home improvement and other woodworking projects. Jim met and married Patricia “Patty” Ott on April 8, 1997 and went on to have two sons, Dylan and Alexander Thiel.

Dylan and Alex were the absolute pride and joy of Jim’s life. The family enjoyed yearly Father’s Day camping trips to Peninsula State Park, spending time together on Lake Alice, and having fun with their golden retrievers Bailey, Sadie, and Zoey.
Jim was a family man, and when he wasn’t recording the latest holiday or birthday gathering, he could often be seen shaking his head and grinning at the sometimes chaotic nature of everyday life. Jim and Patty enjoyed many dinners out at Schwarz Supper Club in St. Anna. He also enjoyed life at home with his dogs, enjoying late-night talk shows, never missing an episode of David Letterman or baking his latest batch of chocolate chip cookies. We will never forget the strength and courage shown in the face of the adversity of cancer. He was a beloved family member and will be very dearly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Patty (Ott) Thiel; sons, Dylan and Alexander Thiel, parents, Wilburt and Dianne Thiel, and sisters, Barb (Greg) Sunke and Judy (Mike) Mueller. Jim is further survived by his sisters-in-law, Kathleen Schultz and Debbie Ott; nieces, Jennifer and Heather Wagner, Elizabeth (Tony) DenDekker, Emilee Schultz (Ben Bannier); nephew, Benjamin Schultz as well as great-nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents, Clarence and Elsie Thiel and Harvey and Enda Roerdink; niece, Stacie Kanzelberger and nephew, Brad Jeske

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Bettag and his staff and Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for the compassionate care given to Jim.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12th St., Sheboygan, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of memorial service at 11:30 a.m.