Donald Thielbert, 83, of Galesburg, died peacefully at 2:48 a.m. Friday, July 19, 2019 at Heartland Health Care, with his daughters by his side.
Don was born April 13, 1936 in Galesburg, the son of Ralph C. and Lucille H. (Filich) Thielbert. He was married to Terri Turcotte. Together they had two daughters, Cathy (Alan) Shapiro of Coral Springs, FL and Monica (Jeff) Rosas of Valencia, CA; his grandchildren, Nicholas (Elizabeth) Rosas, Samantha (Jeremy) Malais, and Renee Rosas; and six great grandchildren, Landen, Matthew, Olivia, Charlotte, Peter, and Henry. Don is also survived by one brother, David (Terri Fahnestock) Thielbert of Galesburg; and two sisters, Becky Crumm and Diana (Paul) Long both of Galesburg. Don was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Daniel Dean and Daniel Lee.
Don graduated from Barber College and the Los Angeles Trade and Technical College. He served in the US Navy as a Naval cook aboard the USS Currier from 1956 to 1960. Don worked many years as a barber and sign painter, both in California and Galesburg. He was a talented artist who enjoyed giving of his time and energy to the community. He had a servant’s heart and was devoted to God and his family. He was a faithful member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and devout patron of the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. He often said he was the oldest altar server in Galesburg.
The rosary will be prayed at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 25, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with funeral mass following the rosary. Father William T. Miller will officiate. Burial with military rites will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Galesburg. Memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
