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Richard "Rick" "Eric" Thiel
Born: 8/18/1947
Died: 3/19/2026
Age: 78
Community: Grand Blanc, MI
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THIEL, RICHARD “Rick”, “Eric” – Of Grand Blanc, age 78, drew his last breath and was called into Glory on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Our Dear Lord remembered him.
He was the oldest of eight children born to Leo Vincent and Ann Eleanor (Mazure) Thiel on August 18, 1947 at Pleasant Home Hospital in Cass City, Michigan.
His parents moved their young family (Rick & Rosanne) to a farm near Bad Axe in early 1950. The Thiel siblings attended the one-room Dam School along Willow Creek.
Richard graduated from Harbor Beach High School, class of 1965 where he excelled in track and held the record for the mile run for almost a decade. He attended community colleges in first Port Huron and then Flint when he moved to begin work on February 2, 1966 for Buick Motor Company Assembly Complex.
He worked and dedicated his work ethic to the company for 40 years. During his years there he continued to pursue his education at the University of Michigan. He remained an avid fan of his Wolverines and called family members out if they wore Michigan State apparel. If he wasn’t wearing maze and blue, he could be found sporting Polo shirt and baseball hats.
During the summer months you could find him boating on Silver Lake near Fenton. In February of 1980 Rick attended the Winter XIII Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. He was in attendance of the semi-final hockey game of the USA vs Russia which was considered a major win before the gold medal match. He generously purchased memorabilia/souvenirs for the family members there. In July of 1996, Rick made a second adventurous trip to Atlanta, Georgia for the Summer Games of the XXVI Olympiad.
He was very handy and could fix and repair countless items, including his younger sister’s vehicle! After his retirement in 2006 he enjoyed tinkering with computers and printers. His apartment bookshelves were filled with books, books, and more books of computer information. He was known to mend and repair some of his clothing and owned several sewing machines. “He was a man of many talents!!”
He is survived by his siblings, Rosanne “Tutti” Thiel (& Jerry Coates), Traverse City, John (& Robin), Grand Rapids, Ellen (& Kim) Hartman, Croswell, Dale (& Kim Marie), Three Rivers, Ron (& Barbara Burger), Oak Creek, WI, Janice (& Jack “Butch”) Massimino, Otter Lake; nephews Brian (Katrina), Michael (Genevieve) and Todd (Heather) Thiel, Scott (Erin), Brent and Mark (Ashley) Hartman, J.L. (Deborah) and Vincent Massimino, Ryan Thiel and his one and only niece, Christa (Bret) Carlson along with 8 great nieces and 5 great nephews all scattered from Michigan, Florida, Ohio to California.
He was preceded in death by his parents Leo in 1990 and Ann “Eleanor” in 2000 and his sister, Susan, Grand Blanc in 2007.
The Hospice staff appreciated his remembrance of the details of their lives. His body was failing, but his mind remained sharp. We are extremely grateful to the Hospice staff who tenderly and professionally cared for Rick/Eric these past three months. Thank you ALL for your many kindnesses!! We can’t thank you enough.
2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Cremation has taken place and services to honor Rick/Eric, and his life will be held at a later date in May or June.
Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com
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3/24/2026 |
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