Thompson-Gearhart, Colleen – 1922–2011

BIRD, GARRISON, GEARHART, HADDEN, HAINES, JOHNSON, LENZ, LONG, MILLER, REXROAT, ROOVAART, SNOOK, THOMPSON, TORTATE

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 2/16/2011 at 13:31:54

Colleen Thompson-Gearhart, 89, OF Newton died on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, at her home in Newton.
A celebration of life service will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, at the VFW in Newton.
Source: Newton Daily News; Friday, February 4, 2011

Additional information from Wallace Family Funeral Home website:
Colleen was born December 02, 1922.
Those left to honor Colleen's memory are her son, Richard Dean Thompson of Newton; 3 daughters, Sandy (Gary) Bird of Newton, Rena Miller (Linda Roovaart) of Newton, and Linda (Steve) Long of Waterloo; her 14 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; her 7 great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Harry (Donna) Lenz of Fort Dodge, Les (Mary Kay) Rexroat of Oklahoma, and Bob (Florence) Rexroat of Florida; her sisters, Mary Alice Garrison of Utah, Doris (Chester) Hadden of Colorado, Irene Tortate of Centerville, and Jenny (Burt) Johnson of Oklahoma; 2 daughters-in-law, Linda Thompson of Grinnell and Ila "Lucky" Thompson of Newton; and her many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Jenny (Snook) Rexroat; 1st husband, Oren K. Thompson; 2nd husband, Merle Gearhart; 2 sons, Johnny Thompson and Rex Thompson; a grandson, William James Haines III; and a sister in infancy.
Colleen was a production worker at the Maytag Company and at Winpower, retiring in 1984.
She enjoyed crocheting and playing Bingo and computer games. She also loved her birds and cats. Colleen had a way of making everyone she knew feel special.
Memorials in Colleen's name may be left at the VFW, the funeral home, or mailed to the family.