1SG (Ret) Steven B. Thillen, age 70, of Ellerslie, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. A visitation for family and friends of Steven will be held Wednesday, August 23, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary - Columbus, 4071 Macon Rd, Columbus, Georgia 31907, the funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM.
Steven was born in Dubuque, Iowa on May 6, 1953; the son of Harland and Shirley Thillen. Steve graduated in 1971 from Rockford West High School in Rockford, IL. Shortly thereafter, he had joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. This is where he met the love of his life, Manuela Beitler. They were married on November 17, 1978 in West Berlin, Germany. Steve attained the rank of 1SG and served in the U.S. Army for 21 years receiving numerous awards and commendations before his retirement. Steve saw combat during Desert Storm, serving as a Paratrooper in the beginning of his career. After his service, Steve worked and retired from TSYS after 25 years. Steve was a member of our community and he cared about others and found ways to serve them by being a member, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Lifetime Member (CVMA); Patriot Guard Riders, a volunteer at Begin Again Farms; a retired Volunteer Firefighter from the Ellerslie Fire Dept., and a lifetime member of the VFW. Steve lived big. He was generous and adventurous. He loved riding his motorcycle, he enjoyed working with rescue horses, and Opa loved to hunt. Most of all he loved his wife, Manuela and enjoying time with his friends.
Steve is survived by: his wife, Manuela Thillen; his parents, Shirley and Harland Thillen; his sister, Ann (Greg) Courchane; his brother, Paul (Christine) Thillen, numerous nieces, nephews, an adopted son and his family, Aaron (Christine) Titko and their children McKenzie, Alex, and Samantha.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Thillen family.
