Thill

John “Jack” Thill, Jr., 90, of Rose Creek, Minnesota, passed away at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota on Tuesday July 7, 2015, from complications related to pneumonia.

Jack was born on Dec. 10, 1924 in Rose Creek, Minnesota, to John and Marie (Lindsay) Thill. He grew up in Rose Creek and Austin, Minnesota. Jack graduated from the College of St. Thomas College in St. Paul, served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II and after his return planned to attend The St. Paul College of Law but chose to enter the family farm equipment business instead.

Jack Thill was the owner of Tradexpos in Austin. Tradexpos produces The Fort Wayne Farm Show in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Topeka Farm Show in Topeka, Kansas, the Wichita Farm & Ranch Show in Wichita, Kansas and the North American Farm & Power Show in Owatonna, Minnesota.

Jack grew up on a family farm near Rose Creek. He planned to enter the practice of law but fell in love and got married instead. He joined his father’s farm implement business in Rose Creek. Jack eventually took over Thill Implement, selling Minneapolis-Moline and Oliver Farm Equipment. He opened a second business, Thill Construction, to build Butler and Behlen grain bins. Facing the high interest rates of the late 1970s, Jack closed his implement business in 1980. Wanting to stay in an agricultural related business he took a trip to Peoria, Illinois to set up a farm show. The show was a resounding success and evolved into the company Tradexpos located in Austin.

Jack’s agribusiness career spanned more than 65 years. “I have enjoyed every minute of it,” He said, when the Austin Chamber of Commerce honored him in 2009 with a Lifetime Achievement Award. “I’ve still got a ways to go.” His advice to young business people comes from the heart: “Be friendly. You are not going to like everyone you do business with. Enjoy people. Treat them like kings.”

His community work includes serving three terms as mayor of Rose Creek and the development of two new residential subdivisions expanding the size of the town. Jack has been a member of the Austin Area Chamber, the American Legion, Elks and Rotary International in Austin for decades. His many philanthropic works include but is not limited to the Mower County Historical Society, his church and the George A. Hormel Foundation.

Jack is survived by three sons, John and Janet Thill of Leawood, Kansas; Jeffrey and Debbie Thill of Spring Park, Minnesota; and Kevin and Linda Thill of Austin, Texas. Four grandchildren, Kevin Patrick Thill of Palo Alto, California, Ryan Thill of San Francisco, California, Lindsay Thill of Bejing, China, Anna Thill of Austin, Texas, and three grandchildren by marriage, Gina Manthey of Eagan, Minnesota, Jenna Kulberg (Jessie) of Monticello, Minnesota, Anders Berglund of Spring Park, Minnesota, and two great grandchildren, Karly Kulberg and Connor Kulberg of Monticello, Minnesota.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth “Betty” Thill, parents, John and Marie Thill, his brother, Robert Thill and his sister Dorothy Griffin of Atlanta, Georgia.

Memorial Mass for Jack will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 25, 2015, at Saint Peters Catholic Church in Rose Creek. with Father Tom Loomis officiating. Visitation will be held at the Mayer Funeral Home in Austin, Minnesota from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 24, and also one hour before the service at the church on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Interment will be in the Saint Peters Cemetery, Rose Creek following the service, with military graveside rites. Condolences may be left at the Mayer Funeral Home, 600 2nd St. NW, P.O. Box 27, Austin, MN 55912.  Memorials preferred to the Rose Creek Fire Department, Rose Creek Booster Club 55970 or donor’s choice.

Online Condolences — www.mayerfh.com.