James Alan Thiel, 68, passed away at his home in Lenexa, Kan. Feb. 21, 2022. He was born Dec. 19, 1953 to Ed and Nora Thiel in Leavenworth, Kan.
Jim was a retired Iron worker and later worked at Van Keppel Company in KCKS. Until his recent retirement he also had a successful fencing business. He loved the country life setting and he especially enjoyed his travels to Colorado and countries abroad. Jim loved animals and Border Collies were with him throughout most of his life. He possessed a caring heart and helpfulness to others. Jim is greatly loved and will be missed by his family and friends.
He married Ella Lychnikov and was recently divorced.
Jim was preceded in death by his son, Ilya; his parents; and his brother-in-law, Tom Urban.
Survivors include his brother, Dave Thiel and wife, Laura, of Leavenworth, Kan.; two sisters, Marie Parker and husband, Andy, of Lenexa, Kan., and Peggy Urban of Bedford, Texas; three nieces, Grace Thiel of Kansas City, Mo., Shelly Urban of Grapevine, Texas, and her daughters, Taylor and Caelyn and Shanda Kohtz, and husband, Jim of Bedford, Texas and their children, Emily and CJ; and two nephews, Neal Parker and wife, Crystal of DeSoto, Kan. and their son, Wyatt and Damon Urban and wife, Doreen of Kennedale, Texas, and their daughters, Felicia and Lillian.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, at St. Francis de Sales Church in Lansing, Kan. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, at the church. Burial will be at a later date. Arrangements in care of R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Missouri-Kansas Border Collie Rescue(mokanbcrescue.org) or National Alliance on Mental Illness(nami.org) in Johnson County or Leavenworth County.