Wilfred Aloysius Thiel

Wilfred Aloysius Thiel, age 95, entered the Loving arms of his Lord and Savior on Monday, December 15, 2025 at his home surrounded by the love of his family.
Wilfred was born to the parents Orbin S. and Bertha M. (Hunkele) Thiel; on September 16, 1930 near Kirby, Ohio. Wilfred grew up on a farm that had raised grain crops and animals including cattle, horses, hogs, chickens, cats, dogs, rabbits, and sheep.
Helping on the farm they butchered their own animals for food, which Wilfred passed on those skills to his children and grandchildren.
Wilfred was a part of Future Farmers of America (FFA) where he raised and showed hogs and did win some top places with his projects. He showed at the Ohio State Fair also. Wilfred was very active in Marion County Farm Bureau Council.
Wilfred's love for country living, farming, and animals continued into his adult life was shared with his family and friends.
Wilfred was very creative and crafty with building their first home of their own; with no plans and adding to their current home, and a camper on back of his pickup truck. He built these things for his family without any formal architectural training.
After he married Ruth Mary (Droll) Thiel on April 26, 1952 on a beautiful spring day with flowers and trees blooming, they moved to Marion County.
The loving couple lived at numerous places until they settled down at their current homeplace in January 1969. Ruth was Wilfred's right hand helping in the field with animals, raising five children together: Steven (Connie) Thiel, Ronald (Leslie) Thiel, Wilfred Jr. (Kathy), Larry Thiel, and Jane (Tim) Wood all of Marion, Ohio.
Wilfred and Ruth enjoyed Western Square Dance Club, Euchre Club, visiting with family and friends. Wilfred was a very busy farmer and father who helped his children learn farming, animal raising, hunting deer, pheasant, squirrels, rabbits, and turkeys. He also had a love of fishing.
Wilfred instilled in his children and grandchildren a great work ethic and a strong faith life. Wilfred enjoyed adventures with his wife and family with ball games in the side yard especially when the family had company, taking family ice-skating to Killdeer to Serpent Mounds, vacationing across the United States which included a snowball fight in the mountains out West in the summertime visiting Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, The Black Hills, Pike's Peak, visiting family in Kansas, getting to see elk, bears, moose, deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, and many other experiences. Wilfred and Ruth had opportunities to visit many with their children including Hawaii numerous times.
Wilfred and Ruth really enjoyed their wintering as "Snow Birds" at their home in Frostproof, Florida and Ready Lake where Wilfred enjoyed fishing almost every day and sometimes twice daily, making freshly squeezed orange, lemonade, grapefruit juices, and fish fries in Florida and for their family in Ohio. Many of Wilfred's children and grandchildren have inherited his love of fishing, from him along with his love for hunting. He still was always there for anything to help with supporting his friends, neighbors, children and grandchildren. Wilfred loved his homemade ice cream which was made every week. He also enjoyed his cornflakes every morning for breakfast.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth M. Thiel; five-children: Steve (Connie) Thiel, Ron (Leslie) Thiel, Wilfred (Kathy) Thiel Jr., Larry Thiel, and Jane (Tim) Wood; many grandchildren: 26 great-grandchildren; numerous great-great-grandchildren; sisters: Elinor Thiel, June McCallister, and Gertrude Baer; brother-in-law, Anthony Droll; sisters-in-laws, Carol Lutman and Darlene (Jim) Kitzler.
Wilfred was preceded in death by his parents Orbin and Betha Thiel; brothers, Bernard Thiel, Eugene Thiel; sisters: Mary McDonald, Loretta (Bernard) Kin; brother-in-law, Gerald McCalliser, Donald Baer; daughter-in-law Kathy Houk-Thiel.
Visitation will be held 4PM-6PM on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at Snyder Funeral Homes, GUNDER/HALL Chapel; 347 W. Center Street Marion, OH 43302. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11AM Friday, December 19, 2025 at St. Mary Catholic Church, with Fr. Edward Shikina officiating. Burial to follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Marion are honored to serve Wilfred's family and online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com