Benedict Thier

Benedict “Ben” R. Thier, 57, of Dyersville, Iowa died Tuesday, January 3, 2017, surrounded by his family at home following a courageous but brief battle with cancer. Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. Thursday, January 5, 2017, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville. Visitation will continue Friday from 8:30 – 9:30 am at Kramer Funeral Home prior to funeral services. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 6, 2017, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Dennis Quint will officiate. Ben was born September 3, 1959, in Dubuque the son of Arthur and Catherine (White) Thier. He graduated from Beckman High School with the Class of 1977, and from Loras College in 1981. He married Krista Taylor on June 20, 1998, in Dyersville, Iowa. Together with his brother, Dennis Thier, and his nephews, Chad and Tony Thier, they continued to operate BARD Materials, a company their father and grandfather co-founded in 1946, (originally known as Dyersville Ready Mix). Ben’s career with Bard Materials lasted 35 years and he was currently the Vice President of Finance. Ben was an avid baseball player and fan, having been on the original Ghost Players team at the Field of Dreams and he continued to share his passion as he coached Little League in Dyersville. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1734, the Dyersville Lions Club, and a member of the St. Francis Xavier Basilica Finance Committee. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Krista, three children: Brent, Olivia, Thomas “T.J.” all at home; siblings: Dennis (Diane) Thier and Carol (Dr. Earl) Goerdt all of Dyersville; his mother-in-law, Lois Taylor of Dyersville, and a sister-in-law: Tina Taylor also of Dyersville; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, Charles Taylor. Memorials are preferred to St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Xavier Grade School or Beckman Catholic High School. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.