Ernest Alvin Thieman

January 04, 2021

Ernest Alvin Thieman, Lamar, Missouri, died at the age of 94, on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at the Missouri Veteran’s Home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. He was born December 21, 1926 in Lockwood, Missouri to Otto Henry John William Lewis Thieman and Mary Oma (Robertson) Thieman. He graduated from Lockwood High School in 1946 and enlisted in the U.S. Army.

On November 25, 1946, he married Ruby Mae “Pug” King in Columbus, Kansas. Pug was from Greenfield, Missouri. Shortly after getting married, he went overseas as part of the occupation force in Japan. He returned home to Lamar in June 1947 and was in the National Guard until November 1952.

Ernie’s occupations included working for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa; the Missouri Department of Transportation in Joplin, Missouri; Horton Engineering and Lawn Boy, before working for Finley Engineering for over 30 years as an Electrical Transmission Designer and Field Engineer/Surveyor.

Together, Ernie and Pug made their home in Lamar, where they raised four sons. Ernie coached his sons’ baseball teams and helped with the Boy Scouts. He enjoyed playing town team basketball and pitching fast pitch softball. He loved playing sports with his sons and watching them play. In later years, he enjoyed watching his grandkids and great-grandkids participate in sports. He especially loved Lamar Tiger Football.

Ernie and Pug enjoyed close friendships made through a pinochle card club. He also loved playing pitch and pitching horseshoes, and other games with friends or family. He took great pride working with his sons on their cattle farm. He had an amazing work ethic and a common sense approach to life.

Ernie was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Pug; three brothers, Warnie, Ozzie, and Roy; two sisters, Martha and Anna; and a great grandson, Ethan Kelly Hull.

Survivors include four sons and their wives: Jerry (Jeannie), Tom (Betty), Terry (Cindy) all of Lamar, Missouri and Joe (Sally) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Kelly (Mike) Hull, Jeff Thieman, Brent (Megan) Thieman, Ellen (Nate) Eddie, Jessica (Matt) Schumann, Jeremiah Thieman, Matt (Ashley) Thieman, Micah (Megan) Thieman, Megan (Steven) Theurer, Allen (Keith) Thieman, Anna (Taylor) Simmons; 21 great grandchildren: Zane, Trenton, Lainey, Wyatt, Lilly, Eli, Lydia, Peyton, Henry, Alexandria, Avery, Lilah, Caelyn, Katherine, Jayce, Knox, Wacey, Lawsyn, Scarlett, Levi and Rian. Ernie loved all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren unconditionally. Ernie was a devout member of Lamar United Methodist Church.

The funeral service was 11 a.m. Monday, January 4, 2021 at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar, Missouri, with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

To honor the family, face masks are required for attendance at the funeral home.

The funeral service will also be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/lamarmethodist/

Contributions are suggested and made payable Lamar United Methodist Church or L.I.F.E. in care of Daniel Funeral Home, 1201 Broadway Street, Lamar, MO 64759. Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.