Leo John Thelen

LEXINGTON – Leo John Thelen, 76, of Lexington, SC, died peacefully with the love of his family and wonderful care of the Lexington Medical Center oncology staff surrounding him on December 23, 2016.

He was born in Freeport, MN on August 14, 1940 to Ruth Evelyn (Ziemann) and Dr. Leo Nicholas Thelen. After serving in the Army, while stationed in Germany from 1959-62, he began a 20-year career in the telecommunication industry working at BellSouth and Hargray Telephone in Hilton Head, SC. In 1991 he started Communications Publishing Company, Inc. in Rocky Mount, VA and Beaufort, SC. He continued his sales and marketing career with Coastal Publishing of the Carolinas through 2015. Even in retirement he continued to stay active and worked part-time at Enterprise Rent-a-Car.

He is survived by his beloved wife Christine (Whitten) Thelen; sons, Christopher Thelen (Lila) and Eric Thelen (Cynthia); step-daughter, Michelle McDonnell (Rick) and step-son, DJ Cunningham (Crystal); sisters, Judy Pesch and Mary Brunner; grandchildren, Brandon, McKenna, Ryan, Trista, Jack, Patrick, Austin, Caroline and Charlotte.

His love for his wife was closely followed by his love of travel and fine shoes.

Funeral services will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, in West Columbia, at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 with interment in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests all memorials be given to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church Building Fund, 2491 Emanuel Church Rd., West Columbia, SC 29170.

Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.

www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.net