Obituary of Eric A. Thiel

Eric A. Thiel, 96, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2018 at the Baptist Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Born in Bochum, Germany he was the son of the late William and Augusta (Glittenberg) Thiel.  Eric moved to the United States in 1926 and was a graduate of Mont Pleasant High School in Schenectady. He married his beloved wife Ethyle (Jones) Thiel on December 19, 1943.  Following his marriage Eric proudly defended his country in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. He worked for many years at General Electric / KAPL as a contract administrator and retired in 1983. Eric was a former member of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Niskayuna and was an instrumental part of building the church. He enjoyed golfing, carpentry, playing baseball and being an umpire, and traveling. He and his wife would spend the winters in Florida for the past 20 years and also cherished their vacations to Maine. Together they traveled extensively around the country. Above all he loved his family.

Survivors in addition to his wife Ethyle include his daughters Kristen Brooks, Lindsay (Robert) Stockwell, Marsha (Clark) Briggs and Karen (Al) Luther. Eric is also survived by his grandchildren Jennifer (Victor) Laux, Robert (Ashley) Stockwell, Katherine (Richard) Keller, Jessica Brooks, Peej (Mike) Rice, Heather Brooks, Jeremy (Heather) Brooks, Amanda (Phillip Dennis Jr.) Luther and Megan Luther, 12 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, several nieces and a nephew, and his sister Ruth Graham. He was predeceased by his sister Elizabeth Thuener.