Paul Michel Thielen

Mickey Thielen left us after living a life in full. He was a brilliant, caring man, a wonderful husband to his wife Cynthia and an amazing father to his children: David, Peter, Laura, & Greg. And to his grandchildren he was “Pomper”; always there to support them, tease them, care for them, and a constant figure in their lives as they grew.

Mickey & Cynthia fell madly in love over 60 years ago. Together they raised their children, lived an amazing life and followed their dreams. By doing so, he set a great example for his children: In the kind of life you should live and in the love you should have for your spouse and children – along with a wicked sense of humor to carry you through life’s ups and downs.

Mickey constructed a number of buildings and for each one he went all out to make it something beautiful. The epitome of this effort was the restoration of the Stagenwald Building, perhaps his most favorite and greatest effort. More importantly, he mentored many others as they grew their careers and their companies. He made it a priority to provide a work environment where people took pride in their work and felt a sense of accomplishment.

He loved Hawaii and early on Cynthia discovered a group of people playing volleyball at the Lanikai park. Little did she know that when he went to play there the first time, it was the start of 35 years of playing S/W/F evenings with the Park Priques. He loved his time there not just for the volleyball, but also for the friendships all of them developed.

In his recent years he took great joy in Cynthia’s legislative accomplishments, both talking with her about them in the evening and helping on the campaigns. He drove a SUV partially because he needed room in the back for all the yard signs he took around and delivered.

His biggest legacy is his four children. In them he instilled a drive to excel, a tremendous work ethic, a joy in humor, and a desire to take on the world on their own terms.

Looking back on Mickey’s life, the amazing things are not the structures he built or the restaurants he started. They are the people he loved, the examples he set, the people he inspired, and the support he provided. And, most of all, the ways he challenged everyone to be the best they can be.

The world is a poorer place with his passing.