THIEL, William G., age 73

Died: Monday, June 3rd, 2024

Celebration of Life: Sunday, June 23, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Hickory Hills Golf Club (E4080 Hickory Road, Eau Claire)

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Max Kade Institute
https://mki.wisc.edu/support-the-max-kade-institute/
or to a charity of your choice

William (Bill) G. Thiel, age 73, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, died at home on Monday, June 3, 2024, following a battle with kidney cancer.

Bill was born on September 3, 1950, to Raymond and Fayne (Acterberg) Thiel. He grew up in Wauwatosa, WI, graduating from Wauwatosa High School. Bill attended UW Whitewater and then Marquette Law School, passing his Wisconsin State Bar Exam in May 1975.

Bill considered Eau Claire his home. He married Barbara Jean (Smith) Thiel on April 12, 1980. Bill built his career in Municipal Law in the Eau Claire area with several firms, including Eau Claire County and partnerships at Mulcahy & Wherry, S.C. and then Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci, S.C.

Bill was passionate and opinionated about his German heritage, and spent years researching his own genealogy and German Immigration to Wisconsin. From this research, Bill published several books, including 'Die Familie Thiel' and he translated from German the 1894 'Memories of the First Years of the Settlement of New Holstein by Rudolph Puchner.'

He collected maps and was talented at drawing maps; a skill that is featured in his books and letters. Bill was an intelligent person who should have been on Jeopardy, but didn't have the fine motor skills to work the clicker.

Bill travelled frequently in Europe with his wife, Barb, and daughter, Laura, and often with friends; particularly enjoying trips involving train travel and good food and beer. Despite his love to explore, Bill's favorite place was Wisconsin where he felt most at home on nature walks and driving through farmland.

In his retirement, Bill enjoyed sheepshead and coffee with friends. He also continued research projects, resulting in published histories of the Town of Pleasant Valley and the practice of law in Eau Claire. 

He was involved in several professional organizations, including the Max Kade Institute, and was  advisory to the Pleasant Valley Historical Society.

Bill is survived by his wife, Barbara Thiel of Eau Claire; daughter, Laura (Ryan) Thiel-Convery of Toronto, Canada; brothers, Richard (Deborah) Thiel of Tomah, Wisconsin and John Scott Thiel of Altoona, Wisconsin; and many other family members, friends, and colleagues.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fayne Thiel (2001) and Raymond Thiel (2024).

The family would like to thank the staff of Mayo Clinic Home Health & Hospice and Mayo Cancer Center.