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The family of Arthur Thelen uploaded a photo
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
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Paula Trigg posted a condolence
Thursday, December 29, 2011
I just can't imagine Grandpa Art being gone, but I know he is not suffering anymore. Shayne and Morgan have missed him terribly since our move to Florida in 2005. God Bless you all. We miss you.
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Dana Stobbe posted a condolence
Saturday, November 5, 2011
My thoughts are with you and your family!
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Keith and Dorothy Kvasnicka posted a condolence
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Our sympathy goes out to you.
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Dale and Brenda Mannis Toft posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Jackie and family, We are very sorry for your loss. Please know that we are thinking of you.
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Melissa & John Monks posted a condolence
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Grandma, we are so sorry for your loss. We are here for you if you need us! John, Melissa & girls
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Life Story posted a condolence
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Family Stories - October 27, 2011
Posted: October 27, 2011 | Last Revised: October 27, 2011
Arthur "Art" Thelen was born to Nicholas Paul and Felicia "Babe" Thelen on June 29th, 1934 in Hugo, Colorado. Art graduated from Hugo High School in 1953 after which he ranched and farmed until 1955 when he married Jacqueline Tuttle from Denver. They continued to farm and ranch 15 miles southwest of Hugo until Art proudly served in the US Army. Upon discharge from the Army in 1960 Art and Jacki and little Renee moved back to the place southwest of Hugo and there continued to enlarge their family with children and foster children. They moved into the town of Hugo around 1994 and continued their life until Art's passing on October 23rd, 2011.
Here are some memories that family and friends have gathered in the past few days as they reminisced about their time with Art.
According to Art and Jacki's children, the story of their first date is quite funny. "When Dad met Mom, it was like country boy meets city girl." Mom was learning to drive and the dirt roads were muddy and she'd slide into the ditch and Dad would come to her rescue and pull her out. This happened not once, not twice but three times and so started the Art and Jacki legacy.
According to Casey one of the first lessons that he remembers is his first driving lesson. He was one of the children who woke up and was functional early in the morning. Dad was up drinking coffee and asked if Casey wanted to help feed the cows with him. Casey jumped at the chance to do something new and exciting with Dad. So they headed out to feed the cattle and dad gets out and opens the gate, then drives the pickup through, the gate. He then drives down to where the cows were and all is going well. At this point he gets out and has Casey get behind the wheel. He tells Casey to keep driving while he throws the bails off the back. All Casey had to do is keep the truck going straight. Casey never looked back because all he could see were the bails. Finally the last bail is off the truck and Dad gets back behind the wheel and Casey moved back to the passenger side. Only then did Casey look out the back window to see how good he did driving the truck straight. The pickup was a 1971 Chevy that had a throttle cable so it would only go about 3-4 miles per hour the way Dad had set it. The steering wasn't perfect. So much to Casey's dismay his straight line was a perfect curve. All Dad said was "the cows don't care how they eat." From that time on the straight line got straighter. Dad made sure of that.
Renee said that Art was the perfectionist with woodworking and would drive all of them crazy at times and yet every one of the kids and grand kids picked up that he had that trait. Explaining all the foster kids, Art would say that he went to bed next to his black haired wife and could wake up next to a blue eyed blonde; i.e., one of the foster kids. If anyone ever asked him "how many kids he had" his only response was always "There were "this many" when I left the house." He always was known for his practical jokes on the kids but it could have been the other way around. With his poker face the kids could never tell if he were joking or not. He enjoyed the kids coming to him and was always shelling peanuts for the kids or giving them candy to the point he was known as "Papa Chocolate". Renee also remembered how he would acquire different types of baby animals to raise. One was an antelope named "Peanut". Antelope season came around and Renee had a fit because she didn't want him shot, so Dad locked him in the garage until the season was over.
Suzie said she can remember the "Pinkie Game". You would bite down on your pinkies for about two minutes and then hook your pinkies together and try to pull them apart. One of the best memories Suzie had of her Dad was that he loved having people around and that he was always laughing. Someone would have to explain what Suzie was saying because Dad didn't always understand her. Suzie ended up with a Jalapeno pepper on her pizza after she had put an unopened can of tuna (which Art detested) on his plate! To this day it makes Suzie laugh! The last thing that Suzie told her Dad was that she loved him!!
When the brothers were asked for stories, John said he learned how important it was to not read a book in the truck during harvest, while one was supposed to be watching the combines. He learned this as soon as Art opened the door to the truck and explained it to him in explicit detail. Keith recalls going to sleep in one bed and waking up somewhere else in the house because either Art or Jim had brought a friend home to spend the night. He said he was never strung up from the ceiling. Jim said he couldn't say anything appropriate because if kids did today some of the things they did back then, they would probably end up in jail. He did say something about wrapping one end of a chain around the rear axle of a police car and the other end around a tree at the park. He said they then drove somewhat fast by the cop so that he would pursue them. Enough said.
Art enjoyed hunting and fishing and in 1971 was Individual Class B winner as well as being on the winning team for the Plains Trap League. That team consisted of Art, brothers Jim and Keith, John Rose and Ken Foote.
While Art was working at the county shop the practical jokes didn't stop. One of the favorites was grease under door handles. During this time and before Casey and Renita were married, Casey was working on some apparently extensive and time consuming plumbing issues at Renita's house. Renita was trying to get a hold of Casey and went to Art and Jacki's to see if he was there. Art asked if Casey had got her plumbing problems fixed yet!! She just turned around and left the room!
Art loved his card games especially cribbage. He often said Judy was the luckiest one person in the world in cribbage. To this day, Jacki and Judy still hold the winning title.
He loved everyone that he was around or had dealings with. Yes, even the Denver Broncos, this season, but above all he loved his wife "Jacki".
One last great memory of Jacki and Art together: On Monday, October 17th John took Jacki back to the hospital in Denver. She had come home just overnight to regroup a bit. When they entered Art's ICU room, he was sleeping. He soon woke up and eventually ate lunch; of course Jacki fed him at her usual pace! After lunch Art turned to Jacki and said "let's do something". To which Jacki replied "Ok, what do you want to do?" Art thought for a short moment and then responded, "I think I want to sleep!" and off to sleep Art went, while Jacki held his hand. It truly was a tender moment and exemplified their life together.
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Shirley Mosher Ciskowski posted a condolence
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Jackie, Our sincerest sympathy and orayers for all of you and your family!! I am so very sorry! Love Shirley & Ray Mosher
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Shirley Mosher Ciskowski posted a condolence
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Jackie, Our sincerest sympathy and orayers for all of you and your family!! I am so very sorry! Love Shirley & Ray Mosher
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Bob and Connie Webb posted a condolence
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Our sympathy goes out to you. May you take solace in the knowledge that Art is now in the loving arms of God. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
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Bill and Sue Gray posted a condolence
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Our sincere sympathy. We have so many wonderful memories. Art was such a caring wonderful man. I don't think he had any enemies. May god bless and keep you all. Love you all. Bll and Sue
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Raymond, Sandie, and JoHanna Bailey posted a condolence
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Jackie,so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you. Love you.
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Pat Hill posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Jackie and Family,
We are indeed sorry to hear about Art, know you have lot's of Memory's to help you through this time. We will keep you in our prayers and pray for good days ahead.
Pat and Homer Hill
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Jeff Covington posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sympathy to the family of Art. I will always remember working around Art when I took my truck to Hugo when I worked on the County . He was always pleasant to be around he will be missed.
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AJ and Valerie Hunsaker posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Aunt Jackie,
We are so sorry to hear about your loss. Uncle Art was a great guy and will be deeply missed. He sure did make wearing a Santa Claus shirt look easy last Christmas! :) Love, Valerie and AJ
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Dick Lyons posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
We are sorry for your loss Jsckie.
If you need help let us know Dick & Juli
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Scott Ehlers posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of Art. My condolences and prayers go out to the Thelen family.
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Theo & Joyce Parker Dohn posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Lots of wonderful memories. May God give you peace and strength during these sad times. Knowing Art is finally at peace is wonderful.
Love to all of you.
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Signe Hull-Plumlee posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. (Gladys Anderson Hull's daughter)
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Diana Jolly posted a condolence
Monday, October 24, 2011
We were sorry to hear about the loss of Art. We will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers! Jay, Diana, Cody Jolly & Jordan Ziemer
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