Leon Kenneth THOMPSON

THOMPSON, LUNNING, RANUM, CAMPBELL, HURGUY, DOOLITTLE, MOORE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:41

June 4, 1934 --- October 14, 2017

ONALASKA, WI -- Leon "Tommy" Kenneth Thompson, 83 years young, of Onalaska went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. He was born June 4, 1934, in Rowan, Iowa, to Edward and Fern (Lunning) Thompson. Having moved a lot in his youth, his family settled in Darlington, Wis., where he graduated from high school. He served in the Army for two years, stationed mostly in France. He joked about how much time he spent peeling potatoes and washing pots and pans on KP. When he returned, he married Ula Ranum. They enjoyed 60 years of marriage and raised two daughters. He worked for a telephone company in the Madison area, and a construction company in La Crosse, laying pipe, during which time he'd been buried alive and survived. He then spent 25 years as the commissioner of the Sewer and Water Dept. for the City of Onalaska. There he was affectionately referred to as the "Turdman." He would tell his daughters that they could be the Turd Queen and ride on top of the city truck during homecoming parades. He was forced to retire after suffering a heart attack and in celebration of his service, the mayor of Onalaska proclaimed March 1994, as Leon "Tommy" Thompson month. He was an avid fisherman and after retirement, he made fishing lures, mostly from wood, which would often be given away to his doctors, feed store owner, many friends and family.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Eugene; nephew, Lane; parents-in-law, Vera and Vivian Ranum; and two sisters-in-law. He is survived by his wife, Ula; daughters, Betty (Randy) Campbell and Janet (Steve) Hurguy; grandchildren, Joshua (Brenda), Jeremy (Beth), Zachary (Shannon), Hannah, Rachel, Naomi, Lydia, Chloe, Joanna Campbell, Shawna Doolittle, Ryan (Rachel) Moore, Jordan (fiancé, Sasha) Hurguy, Tyler (girlfriend, Jessie) Hurguy; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at Holmen Baptist Church, W7656 McHugh Ct. W, Holmen, Wisconsin with visitation beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Special thanks to the many doctors and nurses, ADRC, officer Trevor Carlson, Pastor Habegger, Holmen Baptist Church, Coulee Region Cremation Group, and ambulance personnel who helped during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Agape Pregnancy Resource Center, 744 Moore St., La Crosse, 54603.

La Crosse Tribune -- LaCrosse, Wisconsin
October 19, 2017