Onawa in Monona County
Monona County
Earl ThelanderEarl Thelander
80 YOA
Crime Location: 20877 Gum Ave.
Onawa, Iowa (Monona County)
Case # 07-SO0855
Date of Crime: August 28, 2007
Date of Death: Sept. 1, 2007
Earl Thelander of Onawa, IA, died September 1, 2007 from burns sustained in an August 28 house explosion caused by copper thieves who’d stripped propane gas lines from the home and let it fill with gas.
Earl and his wife Hope had purchased the rural property from Hope’s mother and recently deceased father, and had been readying the home for a new renter.
The Thelander family has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his death.
This case has always haunted my thoughts. I remember exactly when I heard the news of this incident and what I was doing at that time. I have a weekend place in Little Sioux and every Saturday a group of us women would go to Onawa to shop. I so love that town. I often wonder if I passed by the Thelanders in a store while on one of our weekly shopping trips. Such a horrible, senseless thing to happen. Rest in peace Mr. Thelander.