June 22, 1930 – Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Service Information
St. Henry’s Catholic Church-Monticello, MN
Saturday, January 23, 2016
11:30 A.M.

Visitation Information
Peterson Chapel-Buffalo, MN
Friday, January 22nd, 2016
4-8 P.M.

Further visitation will be held Saturday morning, January 23rd from 10:00 A.M. till time of Mass at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Monticello, MN.

Alan Anthony “Al” Theis, age 85, of Monticello, Minnesota, formerly of Buffalo, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2015 at Lakeview Ranch in Dassel, Minnesota.
He was born on June 22nd, 1930 in Shakopee, Minnesota the son of Joseph Louis & Matilda (Lenzmeier) Theis. Alan attended St. Mark’s Catholic School from 1936-1944, and Shakopee High School from 1944-1948. He earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud Teacher’s College in 1952 and a master’s degree in 1974. In 1980 he received a 6th year administration degree from St. Cloud State University.
Al’s involvement in athletics included Minnesota Amateur Baseball in Shakopee from 1948-1952, and Minnesota Amateur Baseball in Buffalo from 1956-1964. In high school and college he participated in four sports: football, basketball, baseball and track. He played four years of college football and was quarterback of the St. Cloud Teacher’s College football team two seasons from 1950-1951.
His military experience included Tank Basic Training in Fort Knox, Kentucky from November 1952 to June 1953. He honorably served his country in the U.S. Army of Occupation in Germany from July 1953 to October 1954. His athletic endeavors in the military included coaching the U.S. Army 28th Division Special Troops football team to the European army football championship. He also played regimental baseball and basketball in Germany. He was a member of the Buffalo American Legion Post # 270, and later the Monticello American Legion Post # 260 and marched in parades.
On January 15, 1955, Alan Anthony Theis and Kathryn Mae Fiemeyer were married at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Shakopee. They lived in Buffalo most of their married life, where they raised three children. He worked as a teacher, coach, and administrator for the Buffalo Hanover Montrose School District #877. Al contributed significantly to the school district while being employed as a teacher at Buffalo High School from 1955-1985, athletic director for 23 years, and head football coach from 1955-1965. Additionally, he was head baseball coach for 5 years, golf coach for 14 years, track coach 1 year and assistant principal for 11.5 years. In the summer months he was always on the golf course, either playing 18 holes with his daughter Anne and son David, telling jokes with his golfing buddies, or coaching junior golf league.
Al’s other accomplishments were his involvement in masters swimming 1986-2000, induction into the St. Cloud State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985, and induction into the Shakopee High School Hall of Fame in 1999.
Al was a faithful member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Buffalo where he sang as a tenor in the church choir for over thirty years. Alan will always be remembered for his devotion to family and friends, his beautiful singing voice, his sense of humor, his love of golf, and his positive outlook on life. Al was an honest man with a strong work ethic, who was respected for his integrity and humility. He loved fishing up north with his brothers, and spending time at the lake with his grandchildren.
Survived by his loving wife of 60 years: Kathryn M. Theis; children: Anne Theis (Stephen) Koller, David Alan (Enid) Theis and Terri Theis (Jeffrey) Gerdes; grandchildren: Emma, Mattie and Clara Theis; Harrison, Hannah, Rachel and Greta Gerdes; brothers: Richard (Elizabeth) Theis and Joseph (Mary) Theis; sister-in-law: Carol Theis; many nieces, nephews and their children.
Preceded in death by his parents Joseph & Matilda Theis, a brother Roland “Bud” Theis, two sisters Edith (Theis) Thomas and Kathleen (Theis) Bongard, and by a niece Mary Jo (Theis) Ness.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Lakeview Ranch in Dassel, Minnesota, and also to the staff at St. Benedict’s Center in Monticello for their care and comfort in recent years.
Memorials are preferred to Lakeview Ranch or the Alzheimer’s Association for continued research on dementia and related cognitive disorders.
A visitation for Alan “Al” Theis is planned at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo, Minnesota on Friday, January 22, 2016 from 4:00-8:00 pm. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Monticello, Minnesota on Saturday January 23rd, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. Further visitation will be held on Saturday, January 23rd from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass at the church. Inurnment with military rites will follow at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Buffalo.