Obit: Thistle, John F. (1818 - 1904)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: THISTLE BUTT WELSCH

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 05/12/1904

Thistle, John F. (13 OCT 1818 - 7 MAY 1904)

J.F. Thistle died at the home of his son, David Thistle, in this city (Colby, Clark Co., Wis.), on Saturday night at 11 o’clock, at the ripe old age of nearly eight-six years.

John F. Thistle was born at Carabonear, Newfoundland, on the 13th day of October 1818. On the 17th day of May 1863, he was united in marriage with Harriet Butt (his second wife), who died in this city about eight years ago. He followed the vocation of a fisherman and sailor until June 1875, when he removed from Newfoundland to Arlington, Columbia Co., Wis., where he resided until 1886, when he came to Colby and made this city his home.

"Grandpa" Thistle, and by this name he was known to all of our citizens, both old and young, and so called by nearly every person who knew him, was one of the best known men in our whole community, and his kindly, Christian face will be much missed on our streets and in our homes, for Grandpa was a firm believer in the great beyond. He had almost become part and parcel of our little city, for during the past eighteen years he was to be seen in nearly all of our public meetings and was a familiar figure on our streets. He was kind hearted and generous and always had a kind and leasant word for everyone, and we feel as though one of our best and truest friends has been removed from our view and earthly associations.

Mr. Thistle was a long and honored member of the M.E. Church, and his old an familiar pew is now empty and we feel there is no one to take his place. Let us hope with his sorrowing relatives that he has found the new life in which he had looked forward with such devotion, and that his suffering on this earth has been replaced by the everlasting joy of that life beyond the grave.

It is a hard task for the Phonograph to record the departures of such staid and worthy citizens and yet we take comfort in the thought that Grandpa never feared death, but on the other hand looked forward to it as the dawn of a new and happy state.

Mr. Thistle leaves to survive him and to mourn his death three sons, William F. of Whatcom, Wash., David of this city, Joseph of Arlington, and one daughter, Mrs. Henry Welsch of this city.

The funeral was held from the M.E. Church, Tuesday afternoon, May 10th, at 2 o’clock, after brief services at the house. Rev. W.M. Philpott conducted the services at the house and church.