John “Rick” Theilen

John “Rick” Theilen

Anamosa

John “Rick” Theilen, 69, of Anamosa, died Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the Anamosa Care Center, from complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, July 20, 2024, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Anamosa. Rev. Rodney Bluml will officiate. Friends may visit from 4 to 7 pm Friday, July 19, 2024, at the Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa. Please visit Goettschonline.com to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences with Rick’s family.

Born September 9, 1954, in Anamosa, John Richard Theilen was the son of John and Helen (Norton) Theilen. He grew up helping his parents on the family farm and attended Anamosa Community Schools and graduated in the Anamosa High School Class of 1972. He studied for one year at Iowa State University. He was united in marriage to Debra Kremer at St. Paul Lutheran Church on November 21, 1987. He was employed as a supervisor at Longview Fiber and later at International Paper. He also farmed with his brothers during this time.

Rick was a member of the church and was active in 4-H in high school. An avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan, he enjoyed football games as a season ticket holder, and basketball as well. He was fond of cats, working in the yard, taking many kinds of photos, especially Bald Eagles, and his special car – a 1975 Pontiac TransAm Firebird.

He is remembered by his wife of 36 years Deb, his siblings Larry (Glenda), Stuart (Meredith), Greg (Cindy) and Kevin (Kenya), his in laws Jim (Elaine) Sutton, Wesley Sutton, Pam Sutton, and Keith Zhorne, as well as by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Linda Zhorne.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The family would like to thank the staffs of the Anamosa Care Center, and Above and Beyond Hospice for the wonderful care they provided Rick.