Vern & Bunny Thelen instilled in their 9 children the blessing of giving. Vern started his business Thelen Sand & Gravel because his parents, John and Agatha Thelen, needed someone to build roads for their farm that would become Pistakee Highlands in Illinois. Vern’s brother, Ray,  later joined him in the business. Bunny, who went to high school with Ray, was the only child of Jake and Tillie Stoffel. Vern moonlighted as a skate guard at the McHenry skating rink and Bunny decided the best way to meet him was to fall down...a lot...so Vern would have to go and pick her up. Bunny & Vern married 17-Oct-48 and started their family: John, Mary Beth, Sue, Tom, Pete, Steve, Ann, Barb, and Peg  Of course the family grew from there. Jack & Debbie had John, Jessica, and Jennifer. Mary Beth & Bob had Mike and Peggy. Sue and Warren had Roger and Ben. Tom & Paige had Drew and Taryn. Steve and Di had Matt and Erin. Ann’s step-son Jason along with her husband Mark also are integral part of the family. Barb & Mark had Matilda, Samatha and,Rachel. Peg & Tom had Jacob, Lexi, & Annie. The great-grandchildren are John & Tami’s: Taylor, Jake, & Kylie; and Jennifer and Pat's: Grace

“A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.” -Elton Trueblood