Jack "Doctor Jack" Thielen

Jack E. Thielen, 91, of Lake Charles, LA died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Monday, February 19, 2018.

Dr. Thielen was born on January 16, 1927, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Galveston, Texas to Herbert and Gladys Chadick Thielen. Jack lived in Mercedes, Texas and moved to Lake Charles in 1935. Upon graduation from Lake Charles High School, he attended McNeese State Junior College. Jack served in the U.S. Army ground forces during World War II.

After his discharge from the Army, he graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Science and a Doctorate of Medicine. Dr. Thielen had a Tulane internship and Urology Residency at NOLA Charity Hospital. Dr. Thielen began his practice in 1956 with Dr. Charles Oliver Frederick. He was a practicing physician at the Urology Center. He had a distinguished career until his retirement in 1993.

He was a member and past president of the Calcasieu Medical Society, a member of the Southeastern Urological Association, Past President of the Louisiana State Urology Society and a member of the American Urologic Association, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Diplomate of the American Board of Urology. Dr. Thielen was a member of the R. E. Krause Lodge and Habibi Shriners. He was a past King of the Krewe of Contraband.

Dr. Thielen is survived by his two children Katherine Bel Thielen Hoffman of Covington, LA, and John Chadick Thielen and wife, Janet Morgan of Lake Charles, LA; his six grandchildren Katherine Williams (Justin), Taylor A. Hoffman, Dean Hoffman (Holly), Morgan E. Thielen, Carson C. Thielen, and John Colin Thielen; and three great grandchildren; Kayleigh Williams, Hayden Williams, and Lyla Hoffman.   Dr. Thielen was preceded in death by his wife, Della Bel Krause Thielen.

Dr. Thielen and his wife, Dudie, were great supporters of the arts. He was awarded the Mayors Arts Award in 2011. He will be remembered for his superb culinary skills, especially his jellies and pickles. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunted and fished all over the world. He loved the mountains of Montana and was an excellent snow skier; he introduced and taught many of his friends the sport. He excelled in gardening, needlepoint, photography, dancing, and storytelling.

The family would like to express our sincerest thanks to Dr. Ben Thompson and Vickie Fontenot, along with Dr. Thielen’s caregivers, Shelly Miller, Sam Barrientos, and Nancy Trahan for their compassionate care in his last years.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School, Calcasieu Parish Library, G. W. Ford Scholarship Foundation at McNeese, or a scholarship foundation of your choosing.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 21, 2018 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Johnson Funeral Home on Lake Street. The funeral service will be held at 4:30pm at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 715 Kirkman Street, on Thursday, February 22, 2018.

Serving as pallbearers are Carson Thielen, John Colin Thielen, Dean Hoffman, Justin Williams, Luke Gould and Graham Counce.