Rockie Shannon Thiel, 64

Rockie went home to heaven on Jan. 14, 2022. He was surrounded by his family when he passed, and there was a great shout in heaven when he got there.

Rockie was born June 17, 1957 to Bobbie Duane Thiel and Ruby Ann Milgrim Thiel (Britton) in Wichita, Kan. He was the oldest of three boys, and he taught his younger brothers from an early age how to cause trouble. He was a ring leader and often got his brothers to do his chores. Rockie loved riding horses bareback, spending hours on them watching over cattle on the family ranch.

Football was a passion in the Thiel home, and Rockie's team was the Dallas Cowboys. He followed them his whole life, never missing a game. He also played football all of his school years.

Rockie married his highschool sweetheart, Paula "Penny" Reed, and they were blessed with two daughters, Amber and Shannon. They later divorced.

Moving out nearer his mom, Rockie met and married Dori Mader in Nevada. The couple was blessed with two children, Shane and Nichole. They later divorced.

Rockie was an avid gardener, a hobby he loved and shared with his mom. He enjoyed sharing his produce and flowers with others. He also was an animal lover, caring for multiple dogs, birds and horses.

Ties to his family's past were important to Rock, and he became a family historian, knowing stories of the past and who each person was in his parents’ families.

Rockie will be greatly missed by his friends and family. We are sure he's catching up with all who went before him, wanting to know the details of their lives. We look forward to seeing him again in the sweet by and by.

Preceding Rockie in death were his father, Bobbie Duane Thiel; mother Ruby Ann Britton; stepdad Ken Britton; and his daughter, Shannon Leann Thiel.

Surviving Rockie are brothers Bobby Thiel and Eugene Thiel of Ronan; sister Tina Cass of Polson; daughter Amber Thiel of Augusta, Kan.; son Shane Thiel and daughter Nichole Thiel of Las Vegas; grandchildren Trenaty Vontress, Damian Vontress Jr., Keanna Vontress, Rayshon Williams and Ahlena Williams, and granddaughters Kaeley Hansen of Wichita and Shala Guy of Augusta; his stepmom Chrystabelle Thiel of Andover, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews.

The family held a private graveside service.