Lois Marie (Small) Thompson, 01 Jun 1942 - 10 Nov 2022

THOMPSON, SMALL, NYCE, GOULD, SMITH, FISHER, MCLEAN, SHENKLE

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 11/16/2022 at 14:48:29

Lois Marie Thompson, 81, of Iowa City and recently Nevada, died Thursday, November 10, 2022, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.

Lois was born June 1, 1941, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of Erma M. Nyce and John W. Small. When Lois was six months of age, John passed. In 1945, James D. Gould joined her family as her father.

She graduated from Beaman Conrad High School in 1959. Lois married Ronald Thompson in Conrad on June 18, 1960. Together they raised three children in Marengo, Iowa. They later divorced. Lois was a stay-at-home mom until her children were in school. She owned Home Decorating Center, was a 911 dispatcher for Iowa County Sheriff all while earning an associate’s degree from Kirkwood Community College. After moving to Iowa City in 1988, she worked for Steindler Orthopedic Clinic and the University of Iowa Hospital in the anesthesiology department until she retired in 2013.

Lois is survived by her three children: Heidi (Brent) Thompson, Cary (Rita) Thompson, and Kim (Andrew) Smith, nine grandchildren: Zach (Bryan) Thompson, Adam Smith, Rachel (Josh) Fisher, Josh Smith, Leah Smith, Brook (Katie) Thompson, Isaac Smith, Aaron Smith, and Bennett (Samantha) Thompson, and three great grandchildren: Charlie and Levi Fisher, and Crue Thompson - all of whom she dearly loved. She was affectionately known as Grandma Lolo.

Lois relished being active. She played softball into her 40’s, enjoyed bowling, golfing-which included two hole-in-ones, reading, puzzles, and a good joke. She loved spending time with family, her wonderful friends, and never missed an opportunity to cheer on the Hawkeyes.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Barbara McLean, Clifford Small, Peggy Shenkle, and Jerry Gould.

Visitation is 10-11 a.m. and the funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church (1036 7th Street) in Nevada, Iowa. A luncheon to follow. Interment at the Conrad Cemetery will be later that afternoon. In honor of her love of the Hawkeyes, her family encourages attendees to wear their favorite black and gold for Tuesday’s services.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at rasmussonfh.com.

Published in The Gazette on November 12, 2022.