John C. Thiele, 81; Writer, Director

John C. Thiele, 81, a resident of Pacific Palisades since 1952, died peacefully in his sleep on July 26. He was a wonderful, smart, witty, kind and gentle man with a great love for family and friends. The son of film director William Thiele and Barbara Thiele, John was born in Munich, Germany, on February 8, 1923 and came to America with his family via England in 1934. He graduated from Hollywood High School and earned a degree in theatre arts at the University of Iowa. In 1943, John joined the U.S. Army and was deployed through France into Germany and Austria. After returning home and touring with the USO, he married Lally Deene in 1949. John and Lally moved to the Palisades in 1952 with their young son, Christopher. John, a proud member of the Writer’s Guild, started his long career in the film industry as an actor in New York City in 1945 and moved on as a screenwriter, freelance television writer, writer and director of television commercials and feature director. He wrote and directed many ‘Lone Ranger’ episodes, was writer/ director on the feature film ‘Fume of Poppies’ and wrote and directed more than 100 industrial films. In 1992, John retired from his long career and spent three years cruising the rivers and canals of Europe aboard his motor yacht, Blue Calypso. He enjoyed many visits from family and friends and returned home to the Palisades in 1995. Predeceased by his son in 1987, his wife in 1988, and his brother Frederick in 2002, John is survived by his granddaughter Jessica Thiele of Pacific Palisades; his sister Dorie Taylor (husband Jim) of Brentwood; his sister-in-law Mimi Thiele of Edmonds, Washington; his daughter-in-law Linda Thiele of Pacific Palisades; and his nephews David Thiele of Everett, Washington, and Tony Rush of West Los Angeles. A memorial service will be held today, August 5, at 2 p.m. in the Palisades Presbyterian Church, corner of Sunset and El Medio. In lieu of flowers, John requested that donations be made in his name to Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, 15821 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.