Harry Richard Thalen

Harry (Herb) Thalen went to be with the LORD on October 21, 2010 at the age of 65.

Born May, 1955 in Edison, Alberta, Herb was the 6th child of 10 to Jakob and Hendrika Thalen. The family moved to Listowel, Ontario when he was 6 years old. In his younger years, he worked for his dad in construction and even attended auctioneering school at 15.

Herb met Jeanny while roller-skating at a church youth weekend. They were married July 6th of 1984, and moved to the Fergus area where they were blessed with their first 3 children. In the summer of 1990, the family moved to Lynden, Washington in search of warmer winters. Three years later they were blessed with their 4th child.

During his life, Herb spent his days in property management, real estate, and painting. His true joy, however, was found in his faith and his family. His weekends were often spent teaching his sons how to repair things around the house and on vehicles. Most people who knew Herb knew they wouldn’t be around him long before he was humming, whistling, or singing one of his favorite hymns. Herb’s love for the Lord was evident in his life, and he instilled that same love into his children and grandchildren.

Searching for more sun and no more winters, Herb and Jeanny and their youngest moved to Ripon, California in 2010. In the years that followed, Herb adored his 10 wonderful grandchildren. Reading and making them laugh were among his favorite things to do with them.

Herb is survived by: his wife Jeanny (nee Holsappel); his children, Krystal (Josh) Burger, Justin (Nicole), Nathan (Kristina), Tanya; his grandchildren, London, Hunter, Eloise, Vanessa, Russell, Mariah, Georgia, Piper, Jamison, Madelyn; his sibling, Hank (Betty), Andy (Edith), Marg (Hank) VanDonkersgoed, Jake, Alex (Henny), Morris (Mary), Rita (Garry) Hovoous, Dinah (Bert) Hutten, Phyllis (John) Nymeyer.

He is preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, and sister-in-law Linda Thalen.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14