Ronald Joe Thompson, 05 Apr 1939 – 11 Aug 2013

THOMPSON, POTTS, SMALL, WHITEFORD, BALDUF, SMITH, KONECNY

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 9/2/2013 at 07:55:25

Ronald Thompson, 74

Celebration of life service for Ronald J. Thompson, 74, Cedar Rapids, was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at First Congregational/UCC Church, Cedar Rapids. He completed his circle of life peacefully at home Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013.

Memorials may be made to the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation or First Congregational/UCC Church.

Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, was in charge of arrangements. Messages may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com .

Ronald Joe Thompson was born April 5, 1939, in Esbon, Kan., the son of Leonard and Rosalie Potts Thompson. In 1946, the family moved to Clemons. They settled in Conrad, where he graduated from Conrad High School in 1956. His athletic success in high school included being recognized as an All-State football player and winning the state broad jump.

At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served from 1956 to 1960. Football played an important role in his military career, including participating in the Shrine Bowl.

He married Lois Small June 18, 1960, in Conrad. He attended the University of Northern Iowa and graduated in three years with a bachelor’s degree in education. He taught business education for three years in Fonda.

The couple moved to Marengo where he worked for four years with his brother Jerry, for Investors Diversified Services. Later, he accepted employment with Burroughs Corporation in sales. He was the top regional salesman for several years. The couple raised three children and later divorced.

During his years in Marengo, he actively served his community as a member of the Jaycees and Kiwanis and as president of the Iowa Valley School Board.

He moved to Cedar Rapids in 1984, at which time he expanded HDC Business Forms Co. Together with Marcia Whiteford, whom he later married, their partnership build HDC to be one of the largest business forms distributorships in eastern Iowa. He enjoyed and valued providing excellent customer service in designing and selling business forms.

The couple shared 27 years together, during which they enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad. Some of their favorite pastimes were encouraging and following the many activities of his grandchildren, playing cards according to the rules of “Ron’s Book,” fishing and cheering for the Hawkeyes and Panthers.

In his retirement, he continued to stay active by volunteering at local elementary schools, serving as Belden Court Owners Association treasurer, helping with projects at First Congregational/UCC Church, attending his weekly Silver Sneakers exercise class and helping support his wife’s many Quota International activities.

Thompson is survived by his wife, Marcia Whiteford; his children, Heidi Thompson and Brent Balduf, Ames; Cary and Rita Thompson, Nevada, and Kimberly and Andrew Smith, Marion; his brother, Jerry and Shirley Thompson, Fairfield; his grandchildren, Zachary Thompson, Brook and Bennett Thompson, Adam, Rachel, Joshua, Leah, Isaac and Aaron Smith; three nephews; his former spouse, Lois Thompson, and a special friend, Irene Konecny.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, Iowa County Obituaries, 22 Aug 2013
Published in The Gazette Aug. 14, 2013.