Darwin Thiele

Darwin Thiele, age 60, of Milbank, died May 29, 2015, at his residence.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank. Rev. Keith Bicknase will officiate and burial will be in the Milbank Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Emanuel Lutheran Church on Tuesday June 2nd from 5 – 8 p.m. and continue Wednesday morning, one hour prior to the service.

Casket bearers will be: his two grandsons Jordan and Daniel Thiele, and his nephews Justin George, Matthew Korstjens, Michael Korstjens, and Jeffery Korstjens, Paul Thiele Jr., and Jeremy Frensco. Honorary bearers will be the 740th Transportation Company, the VFW Post 3486, the employees of Cold Springs Granite and Schuneman Equipment; and all of Darwin’s many friends.

Music will be provided by Larry Tietjen, vocalist, and Kristy Tostenson, organist.

Military honors will be conducted by the State Military Honor Team.

Darwin Otto Thiele was born April 3, 1955, in Milbank, SD. He was the son of Eldred and Darlyn (Steltz) Thiele. He attended school in Milbank and graduated from Milbank High School in 1974. On January 12, 1974, Darwin joined the South Dakota Army National Guard, 740th Transportation Company. He was united in marriage with Debbie Hooth on June 28, 1975.

Darwin worked for Cold Spring Granite Company and worked part time for Schuneman Equipment. His career with the 740th Transportation Company lasted 41 years and three months. He recently retired on April 30, 2015. His service included two deployments to Iraq in 1991 during Desert Storm and in 2003 during Iraqi Freedom. He was awarded numerous medals and ribbons, including the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze service stars and the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars. He was also a lifetime member of the VFW Post 3486, and the American Legion Birch-Miller Post 9.

Darwin enjoyed spending his time with his family and friends. He also enjoyed farming for many years, hunting and in more recent years ice fishing with cousins from MN and family. He recently enjoyed a Nascar race in Kansas City, Kansas. He was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Debbie of Milbank; two sons: Darin (Jennifer) Thiele of Milbank, and David Thiele of Milbank; two grandsons: Jordan and Daniel Thiele; his mother, Darlyn Thiele of Milbank; two brothers: Paul (Deb) Thiele of Corona, SD, and Roger Thiele of Big Stone City, SD; two sisters: Lynda George of Paynesville, MN, and Mary (Jim) Korstjens of Milbank, and 2 aunts, Marian Storm of Milbank and Beverly Seide of Eugene, OR, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father; one daughter Danielle; and a brother-in-law, Scott George, a mother-in-law, Bernice Athey, and father-in-law, Dennis Hooth.