Bruce Allan Thysen, the son of Gary “Tiny” Thysen and Mary Ann (Wad) Thysen, was born May 8, 1959, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa and died January 10, 2020, at his home in rural Elk Horn, Iowa at the age of 60 years, 8 months, and 2 days.
Bruce was baptized at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton, Iowa and confirmed at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa. He attended the Elk Horn Community Schools, graduating with the High School Class of 1977. Following graduation, Bruce worked for Elk Horn Construction, which built highways and bridges. After several years, he drove truck for Atlantic Carrier, hauling grain throughout the Midwest. Bruce also drove for Smithway trucking hauling goods across the United States. After several years, he purchased his own truck and leased it to Smithway for a time. He later became an independent driver, and drove his own rig for several years.
In the early 2000s, Bruce started his own business, Bruce Thysen Construction, where he did general land improvement with his excavator, trencher, and bulldozer and continued to tile and improve many fields in the area.
Bruce loved to travel -- he visited Mexico several times and drove up to Alaska. It was nothing for him to throw a bed role on back of his motorcycle and be gone for several weeks exploring the country. After a near- miss motorcycle accident, he decided it was safer to drive a car and has been tearing up the roads in his “muscle” car.
Preceding him in death was his father, Gary A. Thysen and his grandparents, Clarence and Daisy Thysen and Thorvald and Mabel Wad.
Survivors include his mother, Mary Ann Thysen of Elk Horn, Iowa; his brother and sisters: Shelli and husband Curtis Swensen of rural Audubon, Iowa; Jay and wife Karen Thysen of Atlantic, Iowa; and Renee and husband Shawn Gessert of Harlan, Iowa; his nieces and nephews: Brittney Swensen of Eugene, Oregon; Megan Swensen of Fort Collins, Colorado; Krystina and husband Michael Killian and their children Dahlia, Owen, and Olivia, all of Atlantic; Iowa, Justice Gessert of Indianola, Iowa; and Thysen Gessert of Harlan; his cousins: Jeffery Wad of Nashua, Iowa; Terry Wad of the Twin Cities, Minnesota; and Gale Wad, of Kimballton; as well as other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends Thursday evening, January 16, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted by Pastor Keith Menter on Friday morning, January 17, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa. Inurnment will be held at a later date. The honorary casket bearers will be Larry Petersen, Curt Petersen, Marty Boose, Lonnie Boysten, Terry Knutsen, and Billy Mizner.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
5:00 - 9:00 pm (Central time)
Kessler Funeral Homes, Inc. - Audubon
Friday, January 17, 2020
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Elk Horn Lutheran Church
A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held Friday, January 17, 2020 at 11:00a.m. at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa. Inurnment will be at a later date.
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