Roll Call Tribute

William Neal "Bill" Thiessen 
December 8, 1934 — April 16, 2022 

A memorial service for William Neal “Bill” Thiessen is scheduled for Friday, April 22, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church in La Grange.

Bill was born December 8, 1934 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to O.F. Thiessen and Juanita Sherwood Thiessen. They relocated to Texas where Bill met the love of his life, Myrna Stewart. They married on September 3, 1955 and were married for 66 years. They had four children they raised in Pasadena and eventually moved to La Grange in 2004.

Bill, known to family and friends as Papa John, was a very active volunteer in addition to his career as a Banker. Some of his volunteer activities included Monument Hill Nursing Center (Ombudsman), Ride to Recovery (American Cancer Society), Meals on Wheels, Caregiver Relief for Hospice Brazos Valley, Alzheimer’s Association (Walk Team Captain, fund raisers, caregiver relief and presenter of programs), and various committees for his church. He was a 50-year Mason, a Watch D.O.G. at Deer Park ISD, a volunteer mentor at La Grange ISD, and a docent at the Houston Zoo. Bill had a love for Christ, animals, gardening and even became a Master Gardener. He was an avid reader and was involved in square dancing, competitive swimming and raising pigeons and bees. He was known for his hard-headedness, Coors Original, and his passion for the Aggies. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.

Bill is survived by his wife, Myrna; four children, Mark Thiessen, Marty Emmons (Rob), Darla Niederhofer (Joe), Dana Thiessen; “adopted daughter”, Lynn Terry; daughter-in-law, Kathy Thiessen; sister, Harlean O’Keefe; brother and sister law, Carl and Carleen Stewart; grandchildren, Chad Thiessen, Cassie Powers (Ross), Kyle Morgan, Katie Murphy (Mark), Nick Emmons, Justin Niederhofer (Rachel) and Emily Fowler (Jamey); great grandchildren, Braden, Kuper, Tyler, John David, Elijah, JoyAnna, GraceAnn, Gunner, Creed, Armor; along with nieces, nephews and dear friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, O.F. and Juanita Thiessen and brothers-in-law, Paul O’Keefe and Lt. Col. Robert L. Stewart, (Ret).

The family requests memorial donations be made to Alzheimer’s Association of Texas or to Hospice Brazos Valley.