Luverne M. Thielges

Mar. 29, 2021

CANBY– Luverne M. Thielges, 93, of Canby, passed away Monday, March 29, 2021, at the Sylvan Court Nursing Home in Canby. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 1, 2021, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby. Burial will be in the St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, Canby. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3 with a 7 p.m. Prayer Service with Rosary to follow at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby. Houseman Funeral Home. Birk Chapel in Canby is entrusted with the arrangements.

Luverne Michael Thielges was born in St. Leo on Sept. 20, 1927. He was Adam and Bertha’s sixth child. He was baptized, had his first communion and was confirmed at St. Leo Catholic Church.

Luverne held a variety of truck driving jobs from 1947-1950. He farmed for two years until he was drafted into the service on Jan. 21, 1952. He served as a Corporal in the Tank Co 350 Infantry Regiment during the Korean Conflict in Austria until December 31, 1953.

After returning from service, he worked at the home farm by St. Leo. Doris and Luverne were married on Oct. 21, 1954 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. In the Spring of 1955, the newlyweds moved to their farm in Canby (where son Robert now lives). Doris and Luverne raised nine children with a strong Catholic faith. Luverne retired from farming in 1992.

Doris and Luverne were life-long members of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby where they were active in choir. Luverne was on the Finance Council, Church Building and Maintenance Committees and was a Trustee from 1993-2007. For several decades he attended the annual Jesuit Retreat Center at Lake Elmo. He received the Bishop’s Medal of Service on Oct. 12, 1997.

Luverne was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, earning a 4th Degree status, serving as Grand Knight, was District 23 Deputy for four years and was actively involved in many events. He was also involved in the VFW, St. Leo American Legion, Canby Rotary and Catholic Aid.

He is survived by his children: Debra Thielges, Robert Thielges, Diane (Michael) Osmond, Wendy (Lloyd) Schrunk, Jeffery (Ruth) Thielges, Bruce Thielges (Girlfriend Deb Larson), Gary (Elizabeth) Thielges, LuAnn Thielges and Craig (Jodi) Thielges; Grandchildren: Lisa Moore (Husband Cory Ormberg), Angela (Evan) Pengelly, Benjamin (Natalie) Schrunk, David (Shelly) Schrunk, Andrew Schrunk, Kayla Thielges (Fiancé Eric Winkelman), Kacie (Blake) Haugen, Seth Goodell, Emily Louwagie, Adam Thielges (Fiancé Hannah Sullivan) and Austin Thielges; Great-grandchildren: Logan, Peyton and Landon Moore; Owen, Anders and Lucas Pengelly; Damien, Ida, Blaise and Ivan Schrunk; Hope (Mark) Lund, Kyle (Kayla) DeVos, Kaitlyn (Cole) Regnier, Nathan and Lacie DeVos, Carter, Grant and Lexie Schrunk; Ashlynn and Madelynn Winkelman; Jaden Haugen; Koa Goodell, Gabby, Hannah and Isaac Louwagie; great-great-grandchild, Eleanor Lund; siblings: Sister Janet Thielges, Al (Ann) Thielges, Lucy (Dave) Welu and Kathleen Thielges.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Adam (1989) and Bertha (1995); wife: Doris (2000); infant twin sons: Michael and Joseph (1957); siblings: Della (Ray) Forsblad, Rita (Oscar) VanDeWiele, Irene Thielges, Art (Carol) Thielges, Donald (Marge) Thielges, Matt Thielges, Marie (Henry) Stoks, Phyllis Livermore, Alice Thielges, Mary Ann Thielges, Ralph Thielges and Jeanette (Jerry) Hennen.