Robert Walter THOMPSON

THOMPSON, LANDAGENT, CLARK, DAWLESS, YEAGLE, WISEGARVER, JOHANNS, NICKELL, JACKSON, RIECK, HARKLAU

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/3/2010 at 10:47:43

May 11, 1935 -- September 27, 2010

Robert Thompson

FARMER CITY, Illinois – Bob Thompson was always the first on his block to put up Christmas lights. He never met a bowl of ice cream he didn't like, and he couldn't think of a better way to spend an evening than watching a John Wayne movie. He was a big kid, and he brought joy to all who knew and loved him.

Robert Walter Thompson died on Monday (Sept. 27, 2010) in Farmer City. He was 75. Bob was born on May 11, 1935, in Monticello, Wis., to John and Margaret Thompson. During Bob's childhood, the Thompson family moved throughout Wisconsin and Iowa but ultimately settled in Corwith, Iowa, and Bob graduated from Corwith High School. During his years as a "Co-Hawk," Bob participated in drama, served as a student athletic manager and was a member of the yearbook staff. His classmates jokingly called him "Trebor." "Trebor" loved to reminisce about high school hijinks, particularly those with his buddy Merle. As a young adult, Bob served in the Air Force Reserve and worked for Otis Electric in Hawarden, Iowa. In 1957, he married Helen Landagent, and together they had three children - Debra, Robin and Robert Jon.

Bob began working for Otis Electric's parent company, Coilcraft, and a promotion to the position of plant manager brought him to Farmer City. Helen and Bob later divorced. While working at the Coilcraft plant in Farmer City, Bob met his second wife, Sue Clark Dawless, and the two married on Aug. 9, 1967. Bob's family grew to include Sue's three daughters - Deborah, Karen and Marianne - and on May 4, 1970, Bob and Sue were blessed with their son William Richard.

As a Farmer City resident, Bob was an active Jaycee, a member of two bowling leagues and, much to his then-teenage stepdaughters' embarrassment, a one-time candidate for mayor. He and a friend had a wrecker and were involved with the stock car racetrack during the 1960s and early 1970s. Bob loved working on cars and restored his Pontiac convertible. In 1972, Bob and Sue moved to El Paso, Texas, so Bob could serve as plant manager at Coilcraft's new Juarez, Mexico, facility. Bob didn't speak Spanish, but that didn't stop this Iowa boy from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border each day to work in the bustling twin-plant economy. After some time, Bob was promoted to purchasing manager and began working in Coilcraft's El Paso office. At the time of his 1998 retirement, Bob was in charge of purchasing for 13 plants worldwide.

With his friendly, outgoing nature, Bob made friends with ease. He was always willing to lend a hand with a fix-it project, and he spent many Saturdays changing the oil or waiting for leaky toilets to "lime up" with his son-in-law. He sold Girl Scout cookies for his granddaughter, and he rescued three stray kittens from a neighbor's yard - kittens he and Sue soon adopted. Bob attended St. Raphael Catholic Church in El Paso and, after retiring to Farmer City, Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

At far too young an age, Alzheimer's disease began to steal Bob away. But the great joy he found in life will live on in his family members' hearts forever. Bob/Dad/Grandpa is with us every time we eat a lemon bar, sit through extra innings of a Dodgers game, watch the Packers win or put up the Christmas tree. When we sneeze, we'll hear him say, "Brains are dusty," and when we're cross, we'll hear him say, "If you're mad, better get glad."

We could be mad about being robbed of Bob too soon, but instead we are glad that he is whole again. After all, they certainly show John Wayne movies in heaven ... and we know Bob will have "McClintock" loaded up and bowls of ice cream scooped for us when we get there.

Bob is survived by his wife, Sue, of Farmer City, and six children and their spouses: Deb and John Yeagle of Farmer City; Karen and Spoon Wisegarver of Farmer City; Marianne and Jeff Johanns of Austin, Texas; Deb and Kevin Nickell of Goldfield, Iowa; Robin and Mike Jackson of Hayfork, Calif.; and Bill and Beth Thompson of McKinney, Texas. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Sarah and Jonathan (Karisa) Yeagle of Farmer City; Kate and Alex Johanns of Austin, Texas; Shannan (Nick) Rieck of Ankeny, Iowa; Travis Nickell of Renwick, and Ashley Nickell of Goldfield, Iowa; Melissa Jackson of Hayfork, Calif.; Jessica (Josh) Harklau of Humboldt, Iowa; and Lauren Thompson of McKinney, Texas. Three great-grandchildren - Olivia Yeagle of Farmer City, Levi Rieck of Ankeny, Iowa, and Draven Harklau of Humboldt, Iowa - also survive. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his son Robert Jon; and his grandson Christopher.

A rosary will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct.1, at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Farmer City, with a visitation following from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Sacred Heart Church, Farmer City, Father James Henning O.F.M. Conv. officiating, with interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, Farmer City. Memorial donations may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Farmer City.

The News Gazette - Champaign, Illinois
September 28, 2010