Rudy Thies was born April 1, 1930, to Arthur and Erika Lange Thies in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from South High School in Grand Rapids and later he graduated from Western Michigan University, with a Master's Degrees from Western Michigan, and the University of Oregon.

Rudy was united in marriage with Emily Hansen on August 9, 1953. They were blessed with three children: Thom, Kathy, and Nancy.

For fourteen years Rudy was a teacher and coach at Muskegon Heights High School in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1966 the family moved to Pella where he held various positions at Central College including Registrar and Financial Aid Director. He worked at Central for twenty-eight years, receiving the Presidential Service Achievement Award, and retiring in 1994. Rudy was a charter member of the Peace Lutheran Church and a regular attendee at the Second Reformed Church in Pella. He spent many years serving on the church council, had a heart for missions, and was an avid supporter of Central College. He enjoyed attending all sporting events, gardening, traveling, and playing Sudoku. On April 2, 2005, Rudy was united in marriage with Glenys Nederhoff Schouten.

Rudy passed away on Saturday, January 4, 2014, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House. Those left to cherish his memory are: his wife, Glenys; his three children: Thom Thies and his wife, Beverly Hull of Watkinsville, Georgia, Kathy and her husband, Steve TerLouw of Pella, and Nancy and her husband Paul Van Farowe of Fort Collins, Colorado; his grandchildren; one brother and his wife, Curt and Mary Thies of Henderson, Nevada; his sisters-in-law, Doris Franks of Oxford, Ohio and Ardythe Bulthouse Kroes (Rodger) of Spring Lake, Michigan.

Rudy was preceded in death by his wife, Emily Hansen Thies on March 9, 2002.

Rudy's family:

Wife: Glenys Schouten Thies of Pella, Iowa

Thom Thies and Beverly Hull of Watkinsville, Georgia
Will Thies
James Thies

Kathy and Steve TerLouw of Pella, Iowa
Ryan and Heather TerLouw
Erika TerLouw
Andrew and Allison TerLouw

Nancy and Paul Van Farowe of Fort Collins, Colorado
Annika Van Farowe
Daniel Van Farowe

Brian and Leslie Schouten of Blair, Nebraska
Ahnna Schouten
Arie Schouten
Loryn Schouten

Bruce and Carla Schouten of Pella, Iowa
Olivia Schouten
Brett Schouten
Leah Schouten
David Schouten

Tari and Jeff Eeling of Fairfield, Iowa
Jake Eeling
Sara Eeling

Craig and Loretta Schouten of Columbia, Missouri
Ella Schouten
Jack Schouten

FUNERAL SERVICE

2:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Second Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

VISITATION

Beginning at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, January 6, 2014
with family present 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Pella, Iowa

MEMORIALS

Peace Lutheran Church 'Aids Orphan Scholarships'
Central College Norm Schouten Scholarship

INTERMENT

Oakwood Cemetery
Pella, Iowa

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