Thursday, September 8 | 10:30 AM

Eugene (Gene) Thelemann, Age 81 of Edina died peacefully on August 30, 2022, surrounded by family. 

Gene was born in Le Sueur, MN on March 13, 1941. He attended the country school and graduated from Le Sueur High School. He married Rita Osborne of St. Peter on September 25, 1965, and raised 5 beautiful children on the family farm in Le Sueur. He was a member of the Military reserve, worked for O’Brien plumbing, graduated from Normandale, and retired at Menards in Eden Prairie.

Years of farming cultivated a deep connection and reverence for nature. It was a spiritual source of inspiration and sustenance for Gene as he planted goodness and harvested eternal love throughout his life. He loved spending time in prayer every Friday at Our Lady of Grace for Adoration and he was active within the Spring Forest Qigong Healing Center community. He was loved by everyone he met and his zest for life was infectious. A kid at heart that enjoyed dancing, singing, and humming to whatever tune moved him. He had a knack for bringing people together with a family volleyball game, endless basketball competitions of horse, swimming at Lexington Lake on hot summer evenings after hoeing in the beans, followed by a sweet treat at the red barn. Gene was a devoted family man and proud Papa that was blessed with so many wonderful memories with his grandkids. His joyful, playful spirit will live with us, and we are truly blessed with the time we had together. Be inspired by Gene’s lighthearted spirit and stop to smell the roses, hug a tree, meet a new friend, be a love radiator, or hum a little tune.

Gene is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rita; 5 children, Tim Thelemann of Elk River, Robert (Geralyn) Thelemann of Watertown, Sheila (Keith) Bianchi of St. Paul, Rachel (Chad) Thelemann-Reil of Minneapolis, and Emily (Sara) Thelemann-Evans of Minneapolis; 9 grandchildren, Alex, Aidan, and Sophie Thelemann; Grace Bianchi; Finn and Eloise Hubbard; Emma, Spencer and Frankie Reil; one sister, Eleanor Ostrowski of Duluth; 3 sisters-in-law, Helen Thelemann, of Cleveland; Evie Thelemann of St. Peter and Margaret Taylor of Minneapolis, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. Gene is preceded in death by his parents Art and Mary Thelemann; brothers, Dr. Art Thelemann Jr., Leroy Thelemann, Maurice Thelemann; sister-in-law, Bern Thelemann; brothers-in-law, Larry Ostrowski, William Osborne, Tom Meyer; niece, Katherine (Thelemann) Guettler; as well as other loved ones.

Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday September 8, 2022 at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 5071 Eden Ave., Edina, MN 55436. Visitation will be held on September 7, 2022 at 5:00-8:00 P.M., at the Gearty Delmore Funeral Chapels, 3960 Wooddale Ave. S., St. Louis Park, MN 55416, and visitation one hour prior to the start of Mass at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers a donation to Minnesota Landscape Arboretum or Tree Trust Transforming Lives and Landscapes.

You may make a donation to Our Lady of Grace through a memorial gift through the link below.