Celebration of Life for John Thein, June 25
A celebration of life for professor emeritus John Thein will on Sunday, June 25, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Lied Art Gallery, located inside the Lied Education Center for the Arts building.
Thein taught at Creighton University for 40 years with focuses on Native American culture and art.
The Rev. Don Doll will say a few words during the event. All are welcome to come and remember John. Several of his amazing artworks have been installed in the gallery for this event.
John Howard Thein
September 6, 1942 - May 8, 2023
"Happy are the painters for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end, or almost to the end, of the day." – Sir Winston Churchill
A relentless student of Art and its subjects; a professor and mentor to countless students, peers, and individuals; a father, husband, and friend . . . John Thein was an individual that lived a life devoted to the creation of art as a message, as an education, and as a shape in this world.
John walked on from this Earth and into the Next on May 8, 2023. John was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Howard and Ethel Thein on Sept. 6, 1942. After earning his BFA from the Layton School of Art with studies at Marquette University, he studied in Paris, France, at the renowned Atelier 17. John earned his MA and MFA from the University of Iowa. He then went on to have a distinguished career as a professor at Creighton University for 40 years, where he taught numerous students and helped nurture a connection between Native American culture and art.
Over the years, John's work highlighted the story of Native Americans, especially the massacre of the Lakota Sioux at Wounded Knee. His singular passion to chronicle this event lead to the creation of his work, "Wounded Knee: The Painted Spirit." John's epic Wounded Knee series will have a permanent home and be in the founding collection of the soon-to-open ArtBank in McCook, NE. This monumental canvas project was a dedication of 22 years of John's life and talent that found a home on the Plains, as it should be. His work can be found everywhere, from the Sheldon Art Museum in Lincoln, NE to the Shannxia Art Museum in Xia, China, and the Instituto Guatemala America, in Guatemala City, Guatemala. John participated in countless shows through his career, worldwide, including one-man shows at CFM Gallery in New York, China, Mexico, and England, to cite a few.
John was preceded in death by parents, Howard John and Ethel (Norem) Thein; and infant daughter, Tamara Thein. Survived by spouse, Jeanne Jaroch; son: Dylan (Audrey) and granddaughters, Aurora and Jane; son, Andrew; step-son: Todd Jaroch (Julie) and granddaughter, Maia; step-daughter: Noelle Jaroch (John Bauer) and grandchildren, Alana and Callum; sister, Laurie Lavender; nephew, Michael Lavender; sister-in-law, Judith Olson of Omaha; brother-in-law, John Olson (Joanne) of Birmingham, AL; beloved fur baby, Toffee; and numerous friends, students and artists around the world.