Thomas Jesse THOMPSON

THOMPSON, NELSON, BERG, WALL, OLSON, POPP, ABBAS, NICHOLSEN, SCHERZINGER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/21/2012 at 14:39:38

April 14, 1924 --- February 21, 2012

Thomas Jesse Thompson, 87, of Ames, died on Feb. 21, 2012, at Northcrest Community Health Center. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., and memorial service at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Ave., Ames.

Tom was born April 14, 1924, on a farm in rural Kanawha, to Abraham M. and Cora (Nelson) Thompson. He attended a country school and graduated from Kanawha High School. Tom served in the U.S. Army during World War II and graduated from Iowa State University. On Sept. 7, 1947, he married Elsa Berg in Madison, Minn. Their 64-year marriage was spent together in Sioux City, Waverly and Ames, along with many winters in Scottsdale, Ariz. Tom’s career included teaching, farm management, ag lending and appraisal work, with the last 24 years in the Right of Way Department of the Federal Highway Administration. He was an active Bethesda Lutheran Church member, teaching the Bethel Bible Series and serving on call committees. He served as president of the Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers and was a life member of the Kiwanis Club.

Tom is survived by his wife, Elsa, of Northcrest Community, Ames; daughter, Beth (Christopher) Wall, of Grand Rapids, Mich. and son, Mark (Barbara) Thompson, of Fort Dodge; grandchildren, Morgan, John, Valerie and Sonja Wall and Luke Thompson, Abby Olson and Kara Thompson; great-grandson, Jack Thompson; and one sister, Ruth (Steve) Popp, of Scottsdale, Ariz. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Abe; and sisters, Inez Scherzinger, Alice Abbas, Esther Thompson and Janice Nicholsen.

Memorials may be given to Bethesda Lutheran Church, Northcrest Community, or the charity of one’s choice. Adams Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

February 23, 2012
Ames Tribune -- Ames, Iowa