Harold L. Thornburg


Harold L. Thornburg, 84, of West Bend, died Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, at the Cedar Lake Health Care Center.

He was born June 22, 1926, in Wells County, Ind., to the late Leroy and Naomi (nee Brewer) Thornburg. At an early age his family moved to South Bend, Ind., where he spent his childhood and graduated from high school.

Harold served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, spending 20 months aboard the battle cruiser U.S.S. Guam. He was honorably discharged as a coxswain. Prior to his discharge he met Angelina Lima of Elizabeth, N.J. He and Angie were married June 28, 1947, in South Bend, Ind.

Harold worked for M. Gilbert and Sons as a buyer and salesman while attending technical school where he learned the tool and die trade. In 1953 he joined the West Bend Aluminum Company as a tool and die designer and worked on several popular products. In 1965 he was appointed to the position of safety engineer for the company and also supervised the health services.

He was the first president of the Moraine Safety Council, serving from 1971 until 1973. He was awarded the National Safety Council Award of Merit in 1974. He received the American Society of Safety Engineers Safety Professional of the Year award in 1985 and 1986.

Harold and his wife worked with the Cursio Marriage Encounter Program for many years. He was a Eucharistic Minister at Holy Angels Catholic Church for many years and delivered Meals on Wheels through the Senior Center until it became too much for him. He enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles, playing and working with his eight parrots, which took up much of his time and reading Louis L’Amour books until his eyesight started to fail. He also enjoyed playing Bridge monthly with a group of friends and was in a men’s poker group for many years.

Harold and Angie purchased the Candyman on Main Street in 1975 and operated the store until February of 1989. They both enjoyed working with the customers.

In retirement, he and his wife traveled by car through 39 states until health problems caught up with him. They also enjoyed bus trips.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Angie; five children, Diana (Gary) Kirst of Eden, Deborah Nickel of Centennial, Colo., Daryl (Ken) Feucht of Port Washington, Leroy (special friend, Sabrina VanLeuven) of West Bend and Christopher of Mundelein, Ill.; and seven grandchildren, Scott (Cheryl) Kannass, Jason (Torri) Seiser, Andrew Thornburg, Arin Thornburg, Sam Thornburg, Laurie (Larry) Batten and Brian (Karen) Feucht. He is further survived by five great-grandchildren, Zachary and Nicole Kannass, Matt Seiser and Tara and Conner Feucht; his sister, Nila Simms of Tullahoma, Tenn.; brothers in-law and sisters-in-law, Barbara Thornburg of Mishawaka, Ind., Antonio Lima of Linden, N.J., Helen Quigley of Kings Park, N.Y., John Lima of Elizabeth, N.J., and Grace (Frank) Sullivan of Brick, N.J.; nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends.

Harold is preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Naomi Thornburg; his daughter, Pamela K. Thornburg; his brother, John Thornburg; Angie’s parents, Joseph and Grace Lima; a son-in-law, Mark Seiser; brothers-in-law and sistersin-law, Louis Simms, Edward and Petrina Sukovich, Frank Quigley, William Pierce, Helen Lima and Jenny Pierce; other relatives and many special friends.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2010, at 7 p.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church in West Bend with the Rev. Gerald Brittain presiding. Visitation will be Wednesday, at the church only from 4 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. Please use the handicap accessible carport entrance.

The Schmidt Funeral Home of West Bend is serving the family. Online guestbook and condolences are available at www.schmidtfuneralhome.com.

Harold’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff at the Cedar Lake Health Care Center especially the Forest View activity personnel and the Cedar Home Hospice for the kind and loving care that was given to Harold.