Obituary: Carolyn Thiessen, a teacher at Grandview High School, enjoyed life to the fullest

 Carolyn Thiessen, 84, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away July 21, 2025 at her home with family at her side. 

Carolyn Irene Thiessen was born July 8, 1941 at Rock Rapids, Iowa, daughter of Henry and Ethel (Klein) Thiessen. She grew up on a farm near Alvord, Iowa, attended country school, Cleveland #8, and graduated from Alvord High School.

She graduated from Augustana College with a B.S. in biology. After teaching at Des Moines Tech in Des Moines, she earned her Master’s Degree from Iowa State University. Carolyn taught at Wisconsin State University in Eau Claire and then Augustana College in Sioux Falls. She spent 2 years in Tutzing, German, working in a pharmaceutical lab. On returning to the States, she settled in Kansas City where she taught in the Grandview School District. 

With friends or family, Carolyn pursued a variety of interests. She enjoyed both domestic and overseas travel. She appreciated all forms of the arts especially jazz and ballet. She tended indoor plants and each summer a variety of flowers appeared on her back patio.

 After retirement she continued to pursue doubles tennis in a senior tennis league and watched national and international tennis tournaments or the Kansas City Chiefs with her cat Missy on her lap. She enjoyed coming home to visit family and the farm near Alvord. 

Survivors include her sister Diane Thiessen, Cedar Falls, Iowa and her brothers Don (Linda) Thiessen, Alvord and Kenneth* (Marilyn) Thiessen, Rock Rapids, Iowa. Nephews Troy Thiessen and Jeremy Thiessen and nieces Jody Langenhorst, Nicole Kruse and Erica Sterner. (*deceased 12/5/2025)

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, a great nephew and other relatives and friends. A family memorial service was held in NW Iowa. Memorials may be directed to Harvesters, Heart to Heart International or Operation Breakthrough. 

(Carolyn’s family shared this obituary a year after her death to inform friends and students in the area.)