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1927
2017
Hans Thies, 89, of Huntsville and Georgia Mountain, AL, passed away while in hospital on July 15, 2017. Hans was born in Bremerhaven, Germany and was drafted into the German Wehrmacht at the age of 15. He was captured by the British Army during the collapse of Germany and was shipped to Zedelgem POW camp Belgium. After the war Hans attended Business School in Bremen, Germany and had training in retail business. Uncles, who had immigrated after WWI, sponsored Hans' immigration to the United States in 1951 - whereupon he was drafted into the US Army within 6 months of his arrival - to serve in the Korean War. Hans was one of the first soldiers to be awarded US Citizenship, by act of US Congress, in 1953. Upon his honorable discharge from the US Army Hans was employed by Western Electric as a Nike Ajax field technician. He then joined MICOM as a Nike Hercules MMT and was stationed in Ft. Tilden and Karlsruhe, Germany. Upon returning from Karlsruhe the Thies family settled in Huntsville in 1970. Hans then transferred to the Hawk Air Defense System and was stationed in Korea and Wuerzburg, Germany. An interest in history made Hans a willing tour guide to his coworkers during his deployments in the country of his birth. A later assignment at MICOM was as Deputy Deployment Chief with Patriot Air Defense Units for the Patriot Project Office. Hans then worked for the Raytheon Co. as a consultant/senior logistics engineer, with the US Patriot Units during Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Israel, and later in the acquisition of Patriot Equipment to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Hans retired in 1999 and settled into a home built overlooking Lake Guntersville, where he was a volunteer for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) teaching German and collecting/analyzing local water samples. He also enjoyed baking and his specialties included Black Forest Cake, Butterkuechen and Pizza. Hans sponsored the immigration of four of his in-laws to the United States. Hans is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lisa Thies; 2 children and their spouses, Theodore Hans Thies (Candice) of Huntsville, and Lorain Phillips (Douglas) of Hazel Green; 2 grandchildren and spouse, Matheo Hans Thies and Joshua (Kayla) Phillips. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm July 20, 2017 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church with the memorial service, officiated by Pastor Gary Soop, to follow. Internment will occur at Valhalla. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, Heartline Hospice, or St. Mark's Lutheran Church.
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Sponsored by Valhalla Funeral Home.
August 17, 2017
J Jacobi
Hans just hearing about your passing. Appreciated all the support and have treasured what I learned from you. Blue skies and thank you for the memories.John
August 10, 2017
Thomas Amann
July 19, 2017
To the Thies Family: My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends during this difficult time. I hope that the promise in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 can bring comfort. Knowing that there's a hope for the ones we have lost in death can be so reassuring.
July 19, 2017
Rosilem
Please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved husband, father, and grandfather. May God grant you comfort and peace during this time.
July 19, 2017
Bruce Mueller
To the Thies family,I am so sorry for your loss.Bruce Mueller
July 19, 2017
Jane Williamson
Lorain,
I am so very sorry for you and your family. It is never easy to let go of a parent, but cling to those wonderful memories and stories he told to keep him alive in your heart! Praying for you all during this time of sorrow. Allow God (and your family and friends) to comfort you and give you peace.
July 19, 2017
CW
I am so sorry for your great loss. May the God who "binds up the brokenhearted" and "comforts all who mourn" sustain your family during this challenging time. (Isaiah 61:1,2) With heartfelt sympathy.
July 18, 2017
Candice Thies
We loved you, Opa! You will be missed, but remembered by the life you lived, the stories you told and by your legacy of your children and grandchildren. I am so proud that I was able to call you my family.
July 16, 2017
May God's loving kindness and comfort help you and your family through this very sad time Psalms 29:11
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