Duane F. Thiel

Duane F. Thiel, 79, of Crescent, Iowa, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2010.

He was born on October 24, 1930, in Weston, Iowa, to George and Mary Thiel. The family lived in rural Treynor, Iowa, and Duane graduated in 1949 from Treynor High School. Duane was a Staff Sargent in the U.S. Airforce during the Korean conflict and was honorably discharge in 1954. He then worked for Boeing Aeronautics, flight testing the first B-52 bombers. Duane retired in May 1992 as a Locomotive Engineer from the Union Pacific Railroad. He was a member of the Masonic Temple, American Legion, Fraternal Order of Eagles and Shepherd Valley Lutheran Church. In his retirement he enjoyed traveling and dancing and was an International Ballroom Instructor.

Preceded in death by parents, George and Mary Thiel; brothers, Dwight, Don and Deward Thiel; sisters, Mavis Thiel and Delores Mark.

Survivors include his wife, Marvel Thiel of Crescent; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Dave Hester, of Blair, Neb.; granddaughters, Tracy Gunderson (Errin), Carson, Iowa, and Tiffany Thomas (Jay), of Barboursville, Va.; great grandson, Tristin; several nieces and nephews.

Body was donated to Creighton University.
This obituary was originally published in The Daily Nonpareil.