“Riding His Tractor in Heaven”

John William Thiem, Sr.—known lovingly as Dad, Uncle Johnny, and most affectionately as Popo—left this earthly world on October 7, 2025, to forever ride his tractor in heaven. Born on November 3, 1944, in Galveston, Texas, John was a lifelong resident of Hitchcock and a proud son of the late John and Bonnie Thiem.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Frances Margaret Quested Thiem; his brother James “Chub” Thiem; and his sister Loretta Marinelli. He is survived by his brother Stephan Thiem (wife Carlene) and sister Stephanie Verkin. He leaves behind many extended family members, each with their own cherished memories of Popo—stories of laughter, kindness, and quiet wisdom that will live on in their hearts.

John is also survived by his two sons: John W. Thiem, Jr. (wife Brenna) of Hitchcock, and Michael Joseph Thiem (wife Stephanie) of Texas City. He leaves behind six grandchildren who brought him endless joy: Taylor Thiem Regine (husband Zack), Hunter Thiem, Georgi Thiem, Jaycee Thiem, Jayden Thiem, and Grant William Thiem—each lovingly nicknamed by their Popo.

John served a brief but honorable stint in the U.S. Navy before marrying the love of his life, Frances. Through their union, he gained three sisters—Jennie (Jen) Thiem, Maryann Summers, and the late Sarah Carner—who became family in every sense of the word. The four families spent many cherished years camping along the Guadalupe River. Together, John and Frances built a life rooted in love and hard work, raising two sons in the home John built with his own hands. That same home would later become the heart of his role as “Popo” to six cherished grandchildren.

John worked as a shrimper and a master welder with Union Carbide for many years, retiring in 2000. But retirement never slowed him down. His hands were always busy—building boats, duck camps, homes, and anything else that required skill, grit, and heart. He could weld just about anything, and folks from all over would drop off “projects” for him to work on, knowing Popo would find a way to fix it or make it better. And no matter what was on his to-do list, you could almost always find him on his tractor—his favorite place to be.

Though known for his craftsmanship and tireless work ethic, John’s proudest title came later in life: Popo. After retiring from Union Carbide, he embraced this role with unmatched devotion—school drop-offs and pickups, early morning breakfasts, Red Ryder incidents, four-wheeler wrecks, golf cart mishaps, and donut-hole runs before dance class. He was always there, cheering on his grandsons at baseball and football games, and being the steady, loving presence his family could count on. That familiar green Excursion was more than just a vehicle—it was a promise. Popo never missed a moment, from games to graduations.

Now reunited with his beloved wife, our Nonnie, John rides his tractor in heaven, free and at peace. His legacy lives on in the lessons he taught, the love he gave, and the memories we carry—forever warmed by the strength of his hugs and the sound of his laughter.

Go take that forever ride, Popo. We love you.

Your grandchildren — Taylor, Hunter, Georgi, Jaycee, Jayden, and Grant.

A visitation will be on Friday, October 10, 2025 from 9:00am – 10:00am at the Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque. Funeral Service will be at 10:00am with Deacon Alvin Lovelady officiating.  Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Dickinson.