Evelyn Thiel

On August 6, 1913, two little brothers, Clarence and Art Anderson, ran from their Muskegon home on Jackson Street to the fire barn on Yuba Street, to give their Dad big news. He was walking home from work at the Pere Marquette Rail Road, when his sons rushed up to him. "We have a sister!" That was how A. Robert Anderson learned that he had a baby daughter. Anna (Wikman) Anderson delivered little Evelyn Marguerite with the help of Mrs. Meuer, a neighbor woman with 16 children of her own. Evelyn weighed 9 pounds at birth, and was the only girl born into the family. Because she was the only girl and grandchild, Evelyn was often appointed to help her Grandma Wikman. When she was 12 years old, her grandma told Evelyn to bake a cake for a group of ladies whom she had invited over for afternoon coffee. Evelyn had never baked a cake before, but she said to her Grandma, "I will if you have a recipe." Grandma had all her recipes memorized not written down. So Evelyn found a recipe on the baking powder can. It was a one-egg cake with a streusel-type topping, and must have turned out pretty good, as she never heard any complaints. Thus began Evelyns illustrious baking career. Evelyn had many pleasant memories of her childhood and teenage years. The whole family revolved around the church the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Covenant Church, which would later become the Forest Park Covenant Church. They had many church functions, like picnics, auctions and potluck dinners, full of Swiss and Finnish heritage. Their heritage was an important part of the family, and Evelyn's Grandpa Wikman was determined that she would learn to speak Swedish. She used those language lessons often over the years, translating letters that people received from relatives or friends in Sweden, and was very thankful her grandpa insisted she learn. Evelyn attended Muskegon Public Schools, and graduated in with the class of 1930. She was an excellent student, and was one of the top 10 of her class. Eve also worked at the Occidental Candy Shop while she was in high school, helping make ends meet. Following her graduation she went to Business School, before landing a position at Shaw Box Crane now known as Lift Tech in Muskegon Heights. When Evelyn was 22, her mother died suddenly of a heart ailment, while visiting in Aberdeen, Washington. With her mother gone, Evelyn assumed most of the household duties for the family, caring for her dad and brothers, Art, Paul and Kobe. Evelyn eventually went to work at the Norge Company in Lakeside for 13 years. She worked in the payroll department, where she met Gerhardt (Gary) Albert Thiel, who worked in the engineering department. He tried to get a date with her for two years, before she finally complied. She was attracted to Gary, but she was still needed at home to care for the family. When her father remarried to Minnie Harkness, Evelyn finally accepted a date with Gary. Their courtship lasted for two years, and they were married on September 16, 1951 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in downtown Muskegon. They moved to the home that Gary had built on a farm in Maple Island, and Evelyn bought all the furniture for their home. They couple also adopted two children over the years, John Gerhardt and Emily Katherine, on whom they lavished their unbounded love. Gary and Evelyn spent many happy years raising Black Angus beef cattle, along with growing corn and wheat, and sold the beef to family and friends. Gary and Evelyn joined the Burton Landry Memorial Chapel which would later become the Cedar Creek Covenant Church. Evelyn became the organist/pianist and held this position for 50 years. She also taught Sunday School for 32 years, and remained a dedicated member of the church the rest of her days. She was an active member of Covenant Women, Ladies Aid, and Covenant Daughters, having served in many capacities over the years. Evelyn was also a member of the "Gospel Messengers", a group that traveled around the area spreading the Word of God. Most of all, she was known as the "Head Baker" of rye bread and Swedish coffee bread for 22 years, which she made for all the church-sponsored bake sales. If all that werent enough, Evelyn also wrote the Cedar Creek Church history for their 25th and 30th Anniversaries. She was an excellent writer, and also known as the family "poet," penning many poems for special family events like birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Evelyn's entire life was influenced by her strong faith in God. Her knowledge of the Bible was the envy of some of the pastors that served her church over the years. Just as important as her faith to her was her family. Evelyn was the glue that bonded them all together, and was also family planner for many functions, like the Wikman/Anderson Family summer reunions, where family members gathered for delicious food and hay rides. Christmas Eve was another family gathering, time for lutfisk (blanched cod), korv (potato sausage), rice pudding, ham and fruit soup. In later years, when Gary was stricken with Parkinsons disease, Evelyn lovingly cared for him in their home for four years, before he moved to a nursing home. She then visited him, cared for and fed him at the nursing home every day until his death on August 5, 1996. She also became very involved with the Family Council at the nursing home, serving as the treasurer for several years. Evelyn worked diligently on the Wikman Family genealogy, tracing the family roots back to the late 1700s in Vasa, Finland. She kept it updated as family members died, children married and others were born, as well. Evelyn was always there for all her many friends too. If there was a need, Ev was there to provide the help. She truly loved people and they loved her. As Evelyn wrote in the Family Genealogy Narrative, "Many have joined the Wikman/Anderson Family through marriage. They have been warmly welcomed into the clan. As I look over the present generations, I cannot think of any who are not a great addition. I've always said that those who aren't Swedish or Finnish have taken pills to bring them up to standard." That was quintessential Ev, with her keen sense of humor and love for all mankind. She will be greatly missed. Mrs. Evelyn Marguerite Thiel, age 93, died Sunday, July 15, 2007 in Muskegon. Surviving Evelyn are her son, John (Lori) Thiel of Twin Lake; daughter, Emily Thiel of Muskegon; 3 step-grandchildren, Jason, Joe and Leah Bullard; sisters-in-law, Gloria Anderson of N. Muskegon, Frances Anderson of Fruitport, Eleanor Heiss of Twin Lake, Pauline Thiel of Muskegon; brother-in-law, William Hall of Twin Lake; many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins & numerous close friends. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by 5 brothers, Clarence, Arthur, Maurice, N. Herbert & Paul Anderson. Services are scheduled for Thursday, July 19, 2007 at Forest Park Covenant Church at 11 AM with Rev. David Dahlberg officiating. Interment at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday, 6-9 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home-Muskegon. Memorial donations may be made to the Cedar Creek Covenant Church Building Fund or Forest Park Covenant Women. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.