A Funeral Service for Louis R. Thelen of Mountain Home, Arkansas, will be 10:00 am, Thursday, July 31, 2014, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor David Gadbaw officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 30, 2014, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel.
Louis passed away July 27, 2014, in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 75. He was born May 18, 1939, in Milwaukee, WI, the son of Louis Thelen and Evelyn Wick. He married Deborah Carlson in 1973, at Reno, NV. Louis was a 22 year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, then worked in the aerospace industries at McDonnel Douglas for 15 years. Louis lived in Mountain Home since 1998, moving from Norwalk, CA. He was a lifetime member of the Air Force Sergeants Association and an endowment life member of the N.R.A.. He was a master woodworker, an avid outdoorsman, a fine scale modeler, a true craftsman, and marksman.
Louis is survived by his wife, Deborah Thelen of Mountain Home, AR; sons, Luke (Robyn) Thelen of Fort Meader, MD, Matthew Thelen of Gassville, AR and Mark Thelen of Anchorage, AK; daughter, Valerie (David) Raatz of Anchorage, AK; grandchildren, Ashlynn and Juliana; sister, Shirley (Richard) Gehlhaart of Lakeview, AR and aunt, Betty Stranski.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Burial will be in Kirby's Tucker Memorial Cemetery, Mountain Home, AR. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Air Force Honor Guard.
Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors.
Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.