Eugene "Gene" Raymond Thelen

Eugene “Gene” Raymond Thelen passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

Gene was born on August 20, 1930 to parents Sylvester and Mathilda (Neuerburg) Thelen. He was born and raised on the family farm northeast of Mt. Carmel, Iowa.

He was called into service with the Marine Corps during the Korean War, completed basic training in California and served his country in Korea.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Marines, Gene returned to Iowa where he worked various jobs. These included positions in construction, farming and the meat packing industry. In 1963 Gene went to work for the Rock Island Railroad, where he worked for 17 years as a brakeman and a conductor until they ceased operations in 1980.

Gene married Mary Ellen “Mickey” Fischer in 1955 and they raised the following 6 children together until their divorce: daughters Debbie Jekel, Diane (Terry) Olson, and Dori (special friend Jon Waterbury) Rotert; sons Daniel Daley, David Dailey and Dean Dailey. His son Dean passed away in 1988 and Mickey passed away in 2012.

He was married to Mayvis Larson from 1972 until her death in 1980. Gene enjoyed helping Mayvis raise her nieces Caroline and Christine Lars and her nephew Clinton Larson in her role as legal guardian.

In December of 1982, Gene was wed to Kay Roberts Cox. Kay had 4 adult children at the time of their marriage, whom Gene was proud to call his children. They are daughter Marilyn (Frank) Metzger and sons David (Tracey) Cox, Darrel (Patty) Cox, and Robert (Lynn) Cox. Gene and Kay enjoyed spending time over their 34 years together with their 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Gene enjoyed travelling with Kay to family get-togethers such as Christmas parties, reunions, weddings, and graduations; visiting family members; and collecting various items including toy cars. In recent years Gene especially enjoyed being with his wife Kay and participating in the following activities at the Veterans Home: competing for first-place ribbons for his garden plot, playing bingo for prizes and taking short bus trips with his fellow residents.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mayvis Thelen; son Dean Dailey; grandson Jeremy Linn; three siblings who died in infancy: Dorothy, Victor and Melvin Thelen; sisters Linda Hoffman and Marcile Hoffman; brothers Gerald Thelen and Norbert Thelen; sisters-in-law Donna Thelen and Marleen Thelen; and brothers-in-law Alfred Hoffman, John Hoffman and Allan Ludwig.

Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Kay Thelen; 5 children from his first marriage and 4 children from his third marriage (all listed above); numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings Norman Thelen, Sylvester (Kay) Thelen, Ralph Thelen, Lawrence (Cecelia) Thelen, Mary Ludwig, Lynette (Mike) Schaffer; sisters-in-law Florence Thelen and Jean Thelen; as well as many nieces, nephews and other extended relatives.

Services will be held Friday, May 12, 2017, at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th St., Des Moines. Visitation will be from 10:30 am to 12:00 p.m., followed immediately by a funeral service at 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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