Gregory Erwin Thiel

MARQUETTE, MI - Gregory Erwin Thiel, (Gregg) age 76, of Marquette, Michigan, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2024. He was born on June 2, 1948, in Owosso, Michigan, to Erwin and Catherine (Wlosik) Thiel and was raised on his family's 100+ year-old farm, a place deeply rooted in tradition and hard work.
From a young age, Gregg embraced the values of discipline and perseverance, honed through early mornings milking cows and completing farm chores before and after school. He graduated from Our Lady of Perpetual Help and went on to serve his country with honor as a Security Policeman in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. While stationed at KI Sawyer Air Force Base, Gregg met the love of his life, Linda Francis Rose. The two were married on July 25, 1970, and shared 56 beautiful years together, raising their four children in Marquette.
Gregg pursued higher education at Ferris State University and Northern Michigan University and worked tirelessly throughout his life in a variety of roles, including positions at Goodyear, Raish Oil, Jilberts, and AT&T. He was a man of many passions, including classic cars, bowling, and hunting. Gregg's love for bowling was especially notable, as he achieved two career 300 games and took pride in drilling balls for friends and family at the old Eastwood Lanes, often alongside his dear friend Clay Sandberg. A lover of the outdoors, Gregg found joy in feeding the deer at his in-laws' camp, delighting in their visits while respecting his wife Linda's firm rule that those deer were off-limits during hunting season.
He loved sitting by a bonfire having a few beers whether he was by himself, with Linda, his children, or family and friends.
When he was younger he had a love for basketball. Shooting the last two free throws to win Districts in high school. His love of basketball carried on to his sons. He often would be outside shooting hoops with them when they were younger.
When his children were toddlers he would pretend to crack an egg on their forehead and pretend it was spilling down over their eyes to help them fall asleep. He did this with his grandchildren also. When his grandchildren were young he would bring home papers from work and call it "imagination paper". On the blank back sides he would have them think outside of the box and use their imaginations to draw things.
It is the simple things like this that left lasting imprints on the children and grandchildren he helped raise to push them to become more than just a cookie cutter member of society, but to always question the unknown and to never be complacent with the idea of settling for boredom. Values like this will be passed down for generations to come, thanks to dad/grandpa.
Gregg was a family man through and through. He is survived by his loving wife Linda; his children, Lisa (Jason) Niemi, Gregory (Megan) Thiel II, Peter Thiel, and Matthew (Erin) Thiel; grandchildren Gregory Thiel III, Ashley-Marie (Daloen McCloud) Thiel, Chrystian (Hannah Nordeen) Thiel, Becca-Lynn (Nicholas) Bjork, Tylor (Allyssa Miller) Robinson, Mykenna Thiel, and Maddie Thiel; and great-grandchildren Isla, Maizy, Miles, and Walker. He also leaves behind his siblings Susan Stevens, Sister Linda Thiel, Janet (Mark) Prieur, Fred Thiel, and Kathy (James) Brown; his beloved dog Benzie and his cat Callie, his in-laws Darlene Gregorich, Georgette (Rich) Greet, Tom Olson, and Marty (Sandy) Rose; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Erwin and Catherine Thiel; his father- and mother-in-law George and Verita Rose; his sister-in-law Christine Olson; and his brother-in-law Dale Stevens. Gregg's legacy of hard work, humor, and love lives on in his family. Known for his puns and contagious laughter, he had a way of lighting up a room with his jokes and that famous elbow nudge that often packed a surprising punch. Over the past year, Gregg especially cherished the joy of hearing stories about his great-granddaughter Isla. We get to watch Isla with her silly dance moves that are just like he had. It's the small things that we will forever see and remember him by.
A man of strong values, unwavering dedication, and endless love, Gregg will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Our hearts still ache in sadness,
And secret tears still flow,
What it meant to lose you,
No one will ever know.
To honor his request there will be no service.
Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com