1927
John
2016
John Christian Thiems
August 2, 1927 — July 24, 2016
John passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2016, at his family home from a heart attack. John was born August 2, 1927, in Calumet, OK. He was the fourth of nine children born to Henry W. and Rosella Reimers Thiems. His childhood years were spent on his family's farms in Okarche, Enid, and Kingfisher, OK.
John was a World War II Army veteran who was drafted in 1945, and served in Korea. After completing his military service, he moved to Salem, OR, in 1948, where he worked in a food processing plant. He enrolled in OTI in Klamath Falls and graduated with a degree in Diesel Mechanics Technology in 1953.
He met LaVon Wagner in Brookings, OR, and was married on August 15, 1954. They shared 61 wonderful years together. They are the parents of two children.
John worked in diesel truck shops in Brookings, OR, Eureka, CA, and at Roseburg Forest Products for many years. He retired as a landscape supervisor from ODOT in 1989.
John enjoyed working outdoors and with his hands. He could frequently be found on his tractor haying or doing custom work for friends and neighbors. He loved gardening, woodworking and playing cribbage. He had the ability to build or repair whatever he chose.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Charlie, Leslie; and sister Gertrude Hansberry.
Survivors include his wife, LaVon; daughter Lori Eastin (Patrick)of Phoenix, AZ; son John Craig Thiems (Tammy) of Roseburg; grandsons Ryan McMahon (Stephanie)of Phoenix, AZ; Kyle Thiems (Amanda) Monroe, OR; Colin Thiems of Roseburg; great grandsons Brady and Bennett McMahon; brothers Earl, Henry and Oscar; and sisters Ruby Hill and Opal Leach.
John was a lifetime member of the Roseburg Odd Fellow Lodge and American Cribbage Congress, a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and enjoyed many years of traveling with two RV groups.
Following retirement, he traveled to Newfoundland, Alaska, Hawaii, and all other US states with the exception of Florida. He included his grandsons on many of these memorable trips.
He instilled in his children and grandchildren the values of working hard, honesty and kindness. He enjoyed friendships made during his lifetime.
A private, family celebration of John's life will be held at a later date.
Donations can be made in his memory to either the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for research of a disease that has impacted his son's life or to Mercy Hospice who provided care and support in John's last days.
John was a World War II Army veteran who was drafted in 1945, and served in Korea. After completing his military service, he moved to Salem, OR, in 1948, where he worked in a food processing plant. He enrolled in OTI in Klamath Falls and graduated with a degree in Diesel Mechanics Technology in 1953.
He met LaVon Wagner in Brookings, OR, and was married on August 15, 1954. They shared 61 wonderful years together. They are the parents of two children.
John worked in diesel truck shops in Brookings, OR, Eureka, CA, and at Roseburg Forest Products for many years. He retired as a landscape supervisor from ODOT in 1989.
John enjoyed working outdoors and with his hands. He could frequently be found on his tractor haying or doing custom work for friends and neighbors. He loved gardening, woodworking and playing cribbage. He had the ability to build or repair whatever he chose.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Charlie, Leslie; and sister Gertrude Hansberry.
Survivors include his wife, LaVon; daughter Lori Eastin (Patrick)of Phoenix, AZ; son John Craig Thiems (Tammy) of Roseburg; grandsons Ryan McMahon (Stephanie)of Phoenix, AZ; Kyle Thiems (Amanda) Monroe, OR; Colin Thiems of Roseburg; great grandsons Brady and Bennett McMahon; brothers Earl, Henry and Oscar; and sisters Ruby Hill and Opal Leach.
John was a lifetime member of the Roseburg Odd Fellow Lodge and American Cribbage Congress, a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and enjoyed many years of traveling with two RV groups.
Following retirement, he traveled to Newfoundland, Alaska, Hawaii, and all other US states with the exception of Florida. He included his grandsons on many of these memorable trips.
He instilled in his children and grandchildren the values of working hard, honesty and kindness. He enjoyed friendships made during his lifetime.
A private, family celebration of John's life will be held at a later date.
Donations can be made in his memory to either the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for research of a disease that has impacted his son's life or to Mercy Hospice who provided care and support in John's last days.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Christian Thiems, please visit our flower store.
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