Obituary of Craig Thilges

Funeral services for Craig Thilges, 74, of Arnolds Park, will be 10:30 am, Monday, November 30, 2015 at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Visitation will begin at 2 pm Sunday, November 29, 2015 with the family present from 2-4 pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Interment will be at Okoboji Cemetery in Arnolds Park. Craig Theodore Thilges was the first child born to Ted and Lillian Thilges of Lakota Iowa. He blessed his presence on October 16, 1941. He was then followed by his sister Vicki. Craig graduated high school in 1959 and farmed with his father, Ted. He married Alice Ingebritson and they had three children, Brian, Nanci and Brad. In 1984 Craig and Alice divorced and he moved to Arnolds Park. He started working as a welder at Hill Crest Forge and later purchased the business. In 1991 he married Beverly Erickson who has four boys. Craig and Bev have enjoyed their family, friends and home in Arnolds Park on Lake Minnewashta. He has enjoyed many hours fishing, boating, hunting, golfing, gardening and cooking with his family and friends. Craig passed away Thursday, November 26, 2015 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa at seventy-four years of age. Craig is survived by his wife, Beverly; sons, Brian (Sue) and Brad (Anne) Thilges; daughter Nanci (Carl) Sanders; stepsons, Randy, Jeff, Steven, Taylor and Dave (Tammy) Erickson; sister Vicki (Steve) Mallory; aunts, Marian Brandt and Pauline Besch; uncle, Harold Warner; sixteen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Lillian Thilges; great grandson, Leo Erickson and aunts and uncles.