John Thielman, 84
John Fred "Bucky" Thielman passed on from this life Feb. 10, 2025, in Burley, Idaho. He was born June 14, 1940, in Beulah, N.D., to William and Rose (Birkholz) Thielman. He was raised in the family home in Zap, N.D., with two brothers, Robert and Jimmy (who passed in infancy), and two sisters, Ione and Clarann. In the late 1950s, Bucky left school in Zap to make his way. He headed to the oil fields in Wyoming and traveled around some. In 1962, he decided he needed to see the World's Fair in Seattle, Wash. On his way, as he was traveling through Idaho, he stopped over in Wallace and happened to meet the love of his life, the woman who was to be his wife and companion until her death in 2023 — Dorothy Elizabeth Hayman. They married Sept. 14, 1963. John tried a few more occupations, then joined the Shoshone County road crew, where he stayed until he retired. John and Dorothy raised their family in the Silver Valley: a son, John, a daughter named Christi, a daughter, Robynn, a son named Tom, and a son, Ed Champagne, who was lovingly welcomed into the family at a very young age after the passing of his mother.
John loved to socialize. He could strike up a conversation with literally anyone. He was a proud member of the Wallace Elks Lodge No. 331. He also loved to play cards. Many were the evenings that John and Dorothy spent with family and friends enjoying a "pinochle party;" however, cribbage was his passion. Many friends, children, even grandchildren were given brutal, yet loving, educations in how to play "crib." John was a lifelong baseball fan. In 2024, at the age of 84, he finally got the chance to watch his beloved Yankees live in the World Series.
John faced several challenges in his life. Shortly after joining the county road crew, around 1970, he was electrocuted while helping remove abandoned cars from a creek bed when the crane hit a power line. Toward the end of his career, he was run over by a front-end loader while trying to rescue a coworker's lunch box. He survived both with nearly full recoveries. While recovering from the last, he became a religious gym patron. This dedication also was instrumental in his recovery from a stroke in 2010 and, later in life, the removal of cysts from his spine. He loved to spend time at the gym exercising and socializing. In fact, in the last nine years, there were times in which he had several gym memberships. Many valued friendships were developed at each one. It's wonderful to think that when his time came, it was at his beloved gym, Elite. His current "social club!"
John was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, his siblings, grandchild Rhayman Freiburger and great-grandchild Xavier Taylor. He is survived by children John and Joannie Thielman (Soda Springs, Idaho), Christi Thielman (Post Falls, Idaho), Robynn and Scott Freiburger (Paul, Idaho), Tom and Marcie Thielman (Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.), and Ed and Shelley Champagne (Moses Lake, Wash.). He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and many adored nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
In memory of John, play cards, attend sports or even exercise! Upon his request, there will be no formal funeral or memorial service. In order for his family and friends to "socialize in his honor," an open house was held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at the Minidoka County Senior Center 702 11th St., Rupert, Idaho. An additional gathering will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Wallace Elks Lodge No. 331, 419 Cedar St., Wallace, Idaho. Donations can be made in his memory to Minidoka Senior Center, any Elks Lodge, Rhayman Freiburger Memorial Scholarship at St. Nicholas Catholic School, United Church of Christ Congregation (Wallace), or any other charity of your choosing. Arrangements are under the direction of Joel Heward Hansen Mortuary.
Thielman