Jessie Thompson

THOMPSON, MADDEN, WARREN, WAGNER, RICHARDSON, LIDDELL, EKLUND, OKAFOR

Posted By: Ruth McDowell (email)
Date: 10/11/2011 at 17:50:26

Our beloved and treasured mother and friend, Jessie Thompson, 84 of Creston, died, Thursday, June 3, 2010 at Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at the Powers Funeral Home at the junction of Highway 25 and 34 in Creston.
The Reverend Jim Morris will officiate. Burial and DAR marker dedication by Nancy McKay Harsh Chapter (NSDAR) will be at the Grove Chapel Cemetery, southwest of Creston. The Jerusalem United Methodist and First United Methodist Auxiliary Women's groups will provide luncheon at the First United Methodist Church following internment.

Open visitation will be at the Powers Funeral Home Monday, June 7, 2010 from noon to 7 pm. The family will receive friends from 3-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jerusalem United Methodist Church, the Nancy McKay Harsh Chapter (NSDAR) or the Greater Regional Hospice House. Online condolences by those wishing to leave their loving memories about Jessie may be left under the obituary category of www.powersfh.com.

Jessie Wauneta (Madden) Thompson, daughter of Grace Charlotte (Madden) and Jesse Warren Madden was born January 2, 1926 in Creston, Iowa. Jessie was highly accomplished in arts and music, and graduated from Creston High School in 1944. Over the years, Jessie continued to connect with her classmates through her letters and emails. She helped in planning and executing class reunions, as well as creating updated booklets of classmates' information.

Jessie was united in marriage on July 15, 1944 in Creston to her beloved husband, Fred H. Thompson. They lived, worked and raised their family together for 62 years in the Creston area. She was first and foremost a devoted wife, a fantastic mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, an entrepreneur in business. She also held active membership and offices in many organizations.

Jessie was a "farmer at heart" and loved the outdoors. Along with Fred, she raised and sold vegetables, eggs, milk, and chickens and oversaw the livestock and farming. As the children grew up, Jessie became certified as a nurse assistant and home health aide, assisting new mothers in learning childcare, as well as taking care of the aged. After raising her family, she owned and operated Jessie's Antique Gems, a successful small business that brought her years of pleasure.

Jessie was a member of Jerusalem Church, United Methodist Church, Iowa State Daughters of the American Revolution (ISDAR) and the Nancy McKay Harsh Chapter (NSDAR), Union County Genealogical Society, Union County Historic Society, the UTU-United Transportation Women's Auxiliary, UTU, N.A.R.V.R.E and a trustee at Grove Chapel Cemetery.

Jessie was a very dedicated member of the Nancy McKay Harsh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). She served as the American History Chairman for several years and as Vice Regent, 1996-2000 and Regent from 2000-2004. She was the Southwest District Director for 2 years and also served as Commemorative State Events Chairman. For the last few years, she had been the Chapter Chaplain as well as the Sunshine Chairman, sending cards to members during sickness or trying times. She never missed a meeting until the last several months when she became ill. Jessie took every opportunity to tell others about DAR. She brought many new members into the chapter, including three daughters and three granddaughters.

Jessie loved genealogy and her friends of genealogy; completing personal family history, doing regional and national queries for others, and serving as treasurer of Union County Genealogical Society.

Jessie participated in the Union County Fair for many years and received many awards with her unique exhibits. She initially submitted baked goods and fresh produce, advancing to submitting exhibits related to her love of family history and genealogy. Some of these exhibits were dresses made by her seamstress Mother including a 1920 travel dress and a grade school crepe paper May Day Pole Dance dress made for Jessie in 1938. Two of our family's favorite submissions were Mom's first store purchased dress in 1942, which she wore for two years on special occasions (prom, musicals, church) and a slat off the wooden picket fence that surrounded her great grandfather and grandmothers home, Abram and Rebecca Madden, from the 19th Century.

Jessie is survived by her four sons, Warren Dean (Grace) of Tucson, Arizona, Allen (Rosalie) of Ames, Iowa, Gordon (Lene') of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, and Marten (Linda) of Lenox, Iowa and four daughters, Julie (Paul) Wagner of Sparks, Nevada, Jolene (Mike) Richardson of Franklin, Tennessee, Janet (Mike) Liddell of Tucson, Arizona and Jennifer Thompson of Newcastle, Australia; daughter-in-law Sue Thompson (Steve, deceased) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 18 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Jessie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Fred, two sons, Stephen and Gaylen, and grandsons, Sydney Thompson Eklund and Toney Okafor.