Rev. Harold Joseph Thiel, C.Ss.R.
1930-2006
Revered in Thailand for his work among the Hmong

Our beloved Fr. Harold Joseph Thiel, C.Ss.R., died Wednesday, October 11, 2006, in a hospital in Seattle, Washington. He was 76 years old.

Fr. "Harry" Thiel was born on March 10, 1930 in Providence Hospital in Seattle, Washington. He attended grade school in St. Edward's, Sacred Heart, and graduated from St. Anne's. He entered the Redemptorist minor seminary in Oakland, California in 1944, made his profession as a Redemptorist on August 2, 1951, and did his major seminary at Immaculate Conception in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Albert Gregory Meyer of Milwaukee (later Cardinal of Chicago) on July 2, 1956. Fr. Thiel was appointed to the Redemptorist mission in Siam in November of that same year. During his nearly 45 years as a missionary in Thailand, Fr. Thiel worked for the local Thai and Laotian, Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants, Hmong and Indo-Chinese refugees.

In 1975, Fr. Thiel opened the Hmong Center to educate Hmong youth to be leaders of their people. He returned to the states in 2002.

This past July, Fr. Thiel celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination.

Please remember Fr. Thiel and his family in your prayers and Masses. May he rest in the fullness of the Redeemer's peace.