Jimmy A. Thulen

Jimmy A. Thulen, age 83, of Savanna, Illinois, passed away Friday, September 29, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society, Mt. Carroll, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 6, 2017, at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Burial will take place in Savanna Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, October 5, 2017 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. A memorial fund has been established in Jimmy’s memory.

Jimmy was born November 2, 1933, in Savanna, Illinois, the son of James and Helen (Plattenberger) Thulen. He attended Savanna Schools and graduated high school with the Class of 1951. Jimmy joined the United States Army in 1953 and later joined the Army Reserve before being honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal. On August 18, 1963, Jimmy married Dorothy Smith. They celebrated 37 years of marriage before Dorothy’s death in 2001.

Jimmy started his law enforcement career as security officer at the Savanna Army Depot. He later became a police officer in Savanna and Lanark. Jimmy was promoted to the Lanark Chief of Police. In 1970, Jimmy ran for Carroll County Sherriff and won, serving as the Sherriff from 1970-1986. Jimmy also operated Thulen’s Pub in Savanna for a couple years, until retiring. After retirement, Jimmy continued working as a Janitor at the Savanna Army Depot for many years. He was a member of the Savanna VFW Post# 2223 and the Mt. Carroll American Legion. Jimmy enjoyed cutting wood, hunting, reading and playing cards, especially Euchre. He enjoyed helping those in need and would often drive his fellow veterans to appointments in Iowa City. Most of all, Jimmy loved getting together and spending time with his family and friends.

Jimmy will be dearly missed by his children, Joseph Thulen of Savanna, Jason (Vicky) Thulen of Savanna, Patricia (Kevin) Krug of Elizabeth, Illinois, and Jonathon (Jeannie) Thulen of Morrison, Illinois; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother, Jack (Jennifer) Thulen of Thomson, Illinois. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy; three sisters, Delores Goss, Betty Thulen, and Harriet Berthoff; and a step-son, Gary Mann.