Louise Turnbull ’62 Thiesse

Louise Grace Thiesse was the youngest child born April 21, 1939, to William Robert and Grace (George) Turnbull, in Albany, New York.

Louise attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan where she met Delmar Thiesse, a seminary student at Western Theological Seminary.  They were married August 18, 1962. Del continued his seminary studies and Lou taught 5th grade at the West Ottawa School in Holland.

The couple moved to New York City, New York, where Del served one year of internship at Mott Haven Reformed Church. Louise shared many memories of living in inner city New York during the 60’s. Del finished his seminary studies in Holland and Lou returned to teaching at West Ottawa.

Lou and Del were blessed with five children: Nathan, Norman, Marilyn, Maureen and Monica. Her five children were her greatest joy and she enjoyed staying home with them, keeping the house in perfect order, baking treats that were warm and waiting when her children got home from school.  Lou even ran an in-home daycare at the home in Pella, bringing laughter and pleasant memories to the home. Del and Lou also enjoyed a ministry as foster parents in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

Lou and Del were ministers at various reformed churches during their marriage. Those include Zion Reformed Church (Sheffield, IA), Bethany Reformed Church (Sheboygan, WI), First Reformed Church (Fulton, IL), Church of the Cross (Sarasota, FL) and Third Reformed Church (Pella, IA). While Del was shepherding the congregations, Lou enjoyed the opportunities of choir director, Sunday School teacher, leading different ministries, and joining Del at the back of the church each Sunday to greet people as they leave the Sunday services.

Lou passed away early in the morning May 23, 2024, with praise music and blessings from her children. Lou knew Jesus would bring Del to receive her and take her to life eternal. They are “together forever”, reunited.

“God was ever present with me as I worked with Him. I can now sit at God’s banquet table praising my Lord with all my loved ones who have passed before me.”

“I love my family very much, every moment of every day. I will see you all again and we can Praise God forever.”

Those to cherish her memory are her five children and their families:

Nathan and Tanida Thiesse of Annapolis, MD

Benjamin (Josie)

Gemma

Eliza

Matthew (Christy)

Lily

Jude

Andrew (Lauren)

Daniel (Lexie)

William

Emmett

Kongdech (Benyapa)

Marco

Nannicha

Norman and Sonny Thiesse of Des Moines, IA

Jordon

Jaxton

Brandon

Marilyn and Mark Wichhart of Pella, IA

Brenna

Christopher

Maggie

Adam (fianceé, Paulina Mendoza Cervantes)

Maureen and Zach Hans of Ankeny, IA

Darian (fiancé, Jake Maruth)

Carson

Peyton

Monica and Rich Evans of Sleepy Hollow, IL

Louise is also survived by her sisters-in-law: Myrna (Les) Hocking and Kathryn Sackett, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Delmar Thiesse, parents Bill and Grace Turnbull, parents-in-law Esther and Dick Asche, brother Bill Turnbull, granddaughter Madison Hans, brothers-in-law Arnold Thiesse and Ervin Asche, and sister-in-law Shirley (Bob) King.