Thoele, Walter

Walter H. Thoele, Sr., 90, of New Baden, died Monday, September 17, 2012 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville. He was born June 19, 1922 in Germantown, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Nordhaus) Thoele. He married Ella Mae E. Hoffmann on September 11, 1947 in New Baden and she preceded him in death on November 14, 2000. He is survived by two sons, Walter H. “Butch” (Vicky) Thoele, Jr. of Belleville and Kevin J. (Rena) Thoele of New Baden; four grandchildren, Ryan (Margaret) Thoele, Brooke Thoele, Michael Thoele and Nicholas Thoele; two sisters, Mary (Arnie) Heimann of Germantown and Bernice “Bim” Kniepmann of Breese; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jane Thoele of Germantown and Olin and Eileen Hoffmann of New Baden. He is also survived by step siblings and in-laws on the Spihlmann side. In addition to his wife and his parents he was preceded in death by his step-father, Bernard Spihlmann; a son, Joseph Thoele; two brothers, Edward H. “Artie” Thoele and Alvin Thoele; a sister, Olivia Thoele; brother-in-law Cornelius Kniepmann; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Thoele; and step siblings and in-laws on the Spihlmann side. Mr. Thoele was a retired meat cutter at the Scott Air Force Base commissary. He was a member of St. George Parish in New Baden, the American Legion Post 321 and was a former City Council member. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served as a medic in WWII where he earned a Bronze Star. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at St. George Catholic Church in New Baden with Rev. Gene Neff officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at St. George Cemetery in New Baden. Friends may call from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 19, 2012 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden. There will be a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. and the American Legion will visit the funeral home at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the New Baden American Legion and will be received at the funeral home.