Visitation and Prayers Tuesday, September 26, 2017 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
6:00 PM Prayer Service ~ Rev. Tim Boekelman
Rosary ~ Catholic Daughters of the Americas & Knights of Columbus Sacred Heart Church, Manning, Iowa
Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, September 27, 2017, 10:30 AM Sacred Heart Church, Manning Rev. Paul J. Kelly, Celebrant
Mass Servers Mitchell & Matthew Langel
Lector Anna Langel
Gift Bearers Morgan Kinkade, Danielle Hale
Eucharistic Minister Merlyn Irlbeck
Music "Gather Us In" "Gift of Finest Wheat" "In Christ Alone" "Christ Be Our Light" Sacred Heart Choir
Anne Muhlbauer, Organist
Casket Bearers: Tanner Kinkade, Joe Thielen, Nick Dammann, Brian Irlbeck, Craig Blum, Kevin Grimm
Honorary Casket Bearers: Laura Swanson, Jan Thielen, Mary Beyerink, Cindy Janning, Tom Feilmeier, Ronald Lutwitze
Interment with Military Honors Sacred Heart Cemetery, Manning
VFW Post 3517
American Legion Post 22
U.S. Army Honor Guard

Raymond Peter, son of Leo and Bertille (Reinert) Thielen, was born November 27, 1937, in Carroll, Iowa. In 1940, he moved to a farm south of Manning where he attended Lincoln No. 2 country school until the fifth grade. He then attended Gray Consolidated School until grade ten when he transferred to Manning High School and graduated with the class of 1956. During this time, Ray was member of Future Farmers of America and received the Star Iowa Farmer Award. He attended Iowa State University in the winter quarters of 1957 and 1958.

Ray then left the farm for six months training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, through the National Guard. Ray then began farming, especially stock cows and farrow to finish hog raising, where he stressed high quality pork production. He was recognized as a Master Swine Producer in 1949, the youngest person to receive this honor.

Ray was united in marriage with Vicki Thieman in 1986. They were blessed with a daughter, Katherine. Ray enjoyed being on stage and participated in all of the "Rotary Follies" fundraisers at the Manning Community School. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic parish and the Knights of Columbus. He taught CCD classes for many years, which lead to Diocesan CYO leadership, including chaperoning national conventions in Denver, El Paso, and Washington, D.C.

Ray was a private pilot since 1961, and served on the Audubon County Airport Board during the lengthening and improvement developments several years ago. Ray and Vicki enjoyed traveling and visited Rome while Katherine was a student there. He cherished the time spent with his grandson Leo.

On Saturday, September 23, 2017, Ray passed away at the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in Manning, Iowa. He was 79 years of age.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law Wendell "Junior" Feilmeier, and his parents-in-law Victor and Bess Thieman.

He is survived by his wife Vicki Thielen of Manning; a daughter Katie Hartung and husband Adam of Ankeny; grandson Leo Raymond Hartung; Siblings: Melvin Thielen of Manning; Marjorie Feilmeier of Carroll; and Danny Thielen of Manning; and by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.