Erwin passed away Wednesday evening, June 8, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Erwin “Butch” Paul Thiel, Jr. was born Oct. 18, 1949, to Erwin and Joice Thiel in Redwood Falls, Minn. Butch graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1967. He also attended Mankato State University and the University of Minnesota Duluth. Butch served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1972 in West Berlin. Butch served from 1972-1977 as the Deputy Sheriff of Redwood County, Minn., and from 1980-1981 he was the internship supervisor at Mankato State University Law Enforcement Program and consultant to the Minnesota Council of Governments, Mankato, Minn. From 1982-1983 Butch was a law enforcement instructor at Hibbing Area Technical Institute, adjunct faculty for criminal justice program at Minnesota State University Mankato and 1986-1994 at Buena Vista University in Estherville, Iowa. From 1983-May 2000 Butch was the Police Chief/Civil Defense Director in Fairmont, Minn. He was also involved with other community activities, women’s self-defense instructor, county wide public drug education awareness program and an instructor at Blue Ridge Karate Club. Butch enjoyed fishing, and hunting with his dogs, Annie and Kase, and karate where he held a fourth-degree black belt. He loved spending time out in his woodshop, creating beautiful pieces for friends and family. Butch is survived by daughter, Nicole Langford and family; brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Erwin and Joice Thiel; a brother ,Geoff Thiel; and other relatives. Blessed be his memory. www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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