Thompson, Duane J. 'Tommy' 1924-1995

THOMPSON, WELLS, DREIER, HANGARTNER, ODEKIRK, MUCHOW, FITZ, FORD, TURNER

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/26/2014 at 00:55:13

Memorial services for Duane "Tommy" Thompson, 70, were held Wednesday, Jan. 11, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Postville, followed by the American Legion service. Interment will be at a later date at God's Acres Cemetery, Clermont.

Duane Jerald Thompson was born Oct. 26, 1924 in Clermont, youngest child of John and Marguerite (Wells) Thompson. Orphaned at age six he spent his childhood in the home of his sister, Esther Dreier, where he attended Oak Hill country school in Bloomfield Township and Postville High School.

On Dec. 11, 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army Corp and served in the 8th Air Force. He was a radio operator/mechanic/gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress with the 487th Bomb Group in England. The WWII site of duty was Rhineland and Central Europe. He was discharged March 25, 1946.

Returning to Postville he worked for Midland and Allied Radio Companies in Decorah and Oelwein.

On March 21, 1948 "Tommy" was united in marriage with Glenice Hangartner in Decorah Lutheran church, living in Clermont until 1951 when they moved to Postville.

He continually expanded his education in the electrical field, including graduation from United Electronics Laboratories in Louisville, Ky., July 1959. He taught the Electrical Continuing Education night course for Area One for several years. For several years he worked for Art Baltz with television repair and had a radio shop of his own. He was employed by the Allamakee-Clayton Electrical Co-op for 40 years, retiring Jan. 1, 1987.

Tommy was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, serving four years on the Church Council and as president. He was a life-long member of the American Legion Post #0518.

Preceding him in death were his parents, three sisters, Bessie Odekirk, Mildred Muchow and Anna Fitz, and a brother, Richard.

He is survived by his wife, Glenice; two daughters, Rebecca Ford, Giard; and Shelley Turner, University Park, and one son, Kendall, Decorah.

~Fayette County Union, January 25, 1995