Thad Dennis Firchau

Thad Dennis Firchau, 48, of Lewisville, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Laurel's Peak Rehabilitation Center in Mankato, after a yearlong battle with cancer.

Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at Zaharia Family Funeral Home in Truman. Funeral Service will be at Zion Lutheran Church in Lewisville at 10:30 AM on Wednesday with Pastor John Bennett officiating. Additional visitation one hour prior at the church.  Interment will follow in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lewisville. Zaharia Family Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. www.ZahariaFamilyFuneral.com

Thad was born to Dennis and Delilah "Dee" (Karau) Firchau, on June 30, 1970 in Madelia. He attended school in Truman and graduated with the class of 1988. He went on to attend Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Shortly thereafter, he packed up overnight (literally) and ventured west to Southern California where he spent the next 26 years of his life.   In California, Thad loved to travel the Pacific Coast Highway. He found peace and solitude at the ocean and the beach, and loved all of the nights spent at the Jacuzzi talking and debating with his many friends, eventually earning himself the title "Mr. President". Thad worked for many years at Stater Brothers Markets and later worked at Allied Business School in Laguna Hills, CA.

In November of 2016, Thad moved back to Lewisville to be closer to family.  Here he bought an acreage, affectionately calling it the“Thadillac Ranch”.  He became very involved in the Lewisville community and was recently elected as a member of the City Council, he was a member of the Commercial Club and was also the Vice President of the Lewisville Fun Daze Committee. In February of 2017, Thad began working for Taylor Corp. in the Naviator Division as a corporate trainer in the North Mankato office. He worked here until his health declined.

Thad was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma in February of 2018 and he fought until the very end.

Thad will be remembered for his smart and witty personality. He loved making people laugh (especially his mom). He was a driven man, always looking for a good debate, (which he would say, he usually won). He loved thunderstorms, and jellybeans- except the black ones. For years, Thad and Kelly mailed or gifted Peeps to each other, for every occasion they could, since neither sibling could stand those things. How fitting that he passed just before Easter, when yellow Peeps are everywhere. He will forever be missed.

Thad is survived by his parents, Dennis and Dee Firchau; sister, Kelly (Gary) Karels of Lake Crystal; nieces, Ivy and Emma Karels, of Lake Crystal; many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, and a slew of darn good friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alfred and Margaret Karau and Reinhold and Dorothy Firchau as well as his aunts, Deanna Tomford and Joan Firchau.

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