Raymond Peter Thiesen

Raymond "Ray" Peter Thiesen was the first born child of Lillian Virginia (Johnson) and Peter Joseph Thiesen. He was born in Chicago, July 20, 1930 and died peacefully in his sleep August 1, 2025 in San Diego, California.

Ray grew up an only child until 13 years later when his sister Linda joined the family. He had an extended family that celebrated birthdays and holidays, and especially Swedish Christmas at the Johnson home. Dad loved classical music and he played violin in the orchestra at Lane Technical High, which won awards in Chicago competitions. After graduation he went on to take some business courses but as the Korean conflict arose he felt the pull to join up with the US Air Force in 1951. After basic training in Texas and Illinois, Dad went on to serve as a weather observer in Japan.

In 1955, upon returning to Chicago, Dad met his wife-to-be, Roberta Klitgard, at Temple Baptist Church.  After a short engagement, the two were married. August 6th of this year would have been their 70th anniversary. Ray and Roberta raised four children in the Chicago suburbs. Dad worked for 24 years in the main office of Gerber Plumbing Fixtures in Chicago providing for the family. In their mid 50s, Mom and Dad went into business for themselves in California where they operated small motels in Cayucos, on the central coast and in Willets, on the edge of the Redwoods. Retirement led them to Magalia and Chico, where they were engaged with their church and community of friends. A flooded townhouse in Chico accelerated their migration to San Diego to live with Nancy and Jim where Dad was able to continue his lifetime joy of gardening (where plants grow all year long) and hobbies such as painting.

Our Dad loved a good joke and also a bad joke. “Do you know why they put fences around cemeteries?” would pop out anytime we drove by one. Movies of all types, musicals and dramas, bad sci-fi were what he enjoyed. Many hours of cards and dominos with family and friends were enjoyed… his line of “OK… who’s turn is it? “( when it was his) is repeated anytime we play. He enjoyed his family and the get togethers.

Ray had a faith in God through much of life but it seemed to grow as he was confident that he would be with his maker in Heaven . “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? … He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Cor 15)

Ray has left his wife Roberta Thiesen and sister, Linda Reeves. Children and spouses, Nancy and Jim Jones, Bruce Thiesen, Mark and Sue Thiesen, Eric Meyers. His daughter, Becky Thiesen-Meyers predeceased 2004. Grandchildren, Benjamin Thiesen, Adam Thiesen, Joshua Thiesen, Eric Thiesen, Betsey Thiesen, Daniel Thiesen, Ian Meyers, Faelyn Meyers, Hadrian Meyers. Great grandchildren, Remington Thiesen and Augustine Thiesen. He will be missed.