Funeral Mass for LeRoy “Jr.” H. Thilges, 81, of Algona, will be held 10:30 AM on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Divine Mercy Parish – St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona. The service will be live streamed on Divine Mercy Catholic Parish YouTube page . Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in St. Joseph. A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Oakcrest Funeral Services in Algona with a rosary to be recited by the Knights of Columbus starting at 6:45PM.
Leroy “Jr.” Henry Thilges, son of Leroy and Agnes (Manthi) Thilges, was born May 19, 1942, in Algona, Iowa. He graduated from Bishop Garrigan High School with the Class of 1960.
On July 7, 1978, Jr. was united in marriage with Delores Volentine-Dodds at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona. With that union came four sons, whom he accepted as his own.
Jr. was a lifelong farmer who loved being outdoors and working the land. He especially loved operating his combine to harvest the fruit of his labor.
Jr. was a member of the Kossuth County Pork Producers and Iowa Pork Producers. He was honored to receive recognition as the Iowa State Master Pork Producer. He was also the chairman of the BBQ committee for Iowa Pork. Jr. operated his own business, Leroy Feed Sales in Titonka. He later was the owner of J&R Seeds in Burt.
In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, playing cards, playing checkers, solving jigsaw puzzles, dining out, and, especially, family time. Jr. loved to socialize and was a good polka dancer. He was a NASCAR and Iowa Hawkeye fan and enjoyed watching sports. He was a hard worker, yet a kind and gentle soul. Jr. was a member of St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona and Knights of Columbus.
Jr. passed away April 11, 2024, at Algona Manor. He is survived by his wife, Delores Dodds-Thilges of Algona, IA; stepsons: Bob (Mary) Dodds of Montrose, IA, Rick (Julie) Dodds of Humboldt, IA, Ronald Dodds of Algona, IA, and Ryan (Stacy) Dodds of Lone Rock, IA; grandchildren: Kaitlyn Dodds, Jesse (Aubrey) Dodds, Lindsay (Aaron) Jenkins, Allison (Ricky) Horton, Alex (Nani) Dodds, Tyler (Cassidy) Dodds, and Vanessa (Kody) Trampel; and great grandchildren: Grayson Jenkins, Linden Jenkins, Camden Jenkins, Autumn Dodds, Sinclaire Dodds, Olivia Horton, Izzy Horton, Wyatt Dodds, Kaia Dodds, Emersyn Dodds, Pierce Trampel, and Finley Trampel. Also, three more great grandchildren are expected to join the family later this year. Also surviving are Jr.’s sisters, Donna (Ronald) Grein of Mason City, IA and Doreen Koepke of Algona, IA, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jr. was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Agnes Thilges, sister Darlene Zwiefel, and brother-in-law Darwin Koepke.
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