Duane Louis Thielen (“Wayner”), age 78, of Carroll, Iowa, passed away peacefully at home on June 15, 2025, after a courageous five-year battle with synovial sarcoma.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 21, 2025 at Holy Spirit Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Music will be by Kathy Halbur. Mass Servers will be Hank Badding and Gavin Badding. Gift Bearers will be Duane’s children, Amy Maynes, Amanda Hill, and Aaron Thielen. Eucharistic Minister will be Phil Phillips. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Duane’s grandchildren. Casket Bearers will be Dan Clark, Alan Schapman, William Thielen, Mark Thielen, Nick Neary, and Michael Cruchelow. Immediately following the Funeral Mass military honors will be conducted by the Carroll American Legion. Private family burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery.
A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 12-12:45 p.m. on Saturday at Holy Spirit Church.
Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for a later designation. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Duane’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on December 6, 1946, in Carroll, Duane was the son of William and Marie (Grossman) Thielen. He graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1965 and was later drafted into the U.S. Army, proudly serving overseas in Germany and France.
Duane retired from MidAmerican Energy in 2009 after a dedicated 37½-year career. Following retirement, he remained active in both his community and his passions. A lifelong car enthusiast, Duane was a member of the RPM Car Club, where he also served on the board until his health no longer allowed. He found great joy in working on his 1955 Chevrolet station wagon. A man of quiet strength, he had an unmatched work ethic and could fix just about anything.
He was also known for his deep love of history and genealogy. He enjoyed learning about and sharing his lineage and was often referred to as the family historian. He was a collector at heart—vintage bottle openers, cans, and model cars filled his shelves. And if oldies music was playing, you could bet Duane was listening—his appreciation for the classics was part of his charm.
Duane was a longtime member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He generously volunteered on the church’s grounds committee and also served as a custodian for six years.
Duane was a man of faith, honesty, and humility. He was known for his kind and helpful nature, positive attitude, quick wit, and calm presence. Though quiet by nature, when he spoke, his words carried weight. His family and friends will deeply miss his wisdom, warmth, and gentle spirit.
He was married to the love of his life, Barbara, for 55 years. Together, they built a life centered around faith, family and love.
Duane is survived by his devoted wife, Barbara, and their children: Amy (Ralph) Maynes, Amanda (Eric) Hill, and Aaron (Elizabeth) Thielen. He was a proud and devoted grandfather to Rebecca, Corrina, RJ, Victoria, Savannah, Sydney, Henry, and Margaret.
Also left to cherish his memory are his siblings: Larry (Sandy) Thielen, Mary Carol Collings, Jane Neary, Cheryl (Larry) Cruchelow, Kathy Thielen, and Mark (Anna) Thielen; sisters-in-law Jolene Thielen and Barb Thielen; and his in-laws: Pat Tan Creti, Jim Clark, Joan (Dave) Kerwood, Joyce (Marc) Nieland, Mark Bruening, and Angela (Michael) Reuter.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Marie Thielen; brothers, Thomas, Jim, and Bill Thielen; and brothers-in-law Glenn Collings, Pat Neary, Jack Badding and Marin Tan Creti. Sister-in-law Josie Clark; his in-laws Tony and Dorothy Bruening; Nephew Trevor Collings and niece Sarah Tan Creti.
Duane’s legacy lives on in the values he instilled and the lives he touched. He will be dearly missed and forever remembered.
