My Dad — Fred Bennett Thompson, Service # 3 7 420 766, Technician Fifth Grade, 326th Antiaircraft Artillery, Searchlight Battalion
Fred B. Thompson, 85, a lifelong resident of Woodbury County residing in Correctionville, Iowa, died November 7, 2002, at 6:00 p.m. in Mercy Hospital, Sioux City, Iowa.
Visitation was held Sunday, November 10, after 2 o'clock with a prayer service at 7 p.m. in charge of Rev. Sheryl Ashley, followed by a Masonic service conducted by Cerulean Lodge 550 A.F.&A.M. of Anthon, all at Armstrong Funeral Home in Anthon. Funeral services were held November 11th at 10:30 a.m. in the United Methodist Church at Anthon with Rev. Karl Harmon officiating, with Rev. Sheryl Ashley assisting. Bill and Patsy Barth, vocalists, sang "Amazing Grace" and "Old Rugged" Cross", accompanied by Karen Wilcox. Leonard and Karen Wilcox were in charge of flowers.
Burial was in Fairfield Cemetery with military rites conducted by American Legion McNiff Post #389 of Anthon.
Pallbearers, all grandsons, included Shane Thompson, James Carter, Darren Meister, Ryan Brauninger, Josh Thompson, Beau Brauninger, William Thompson, Timothy Hulick, Gary Meiners, Jesse Pedersen, and Michael Brown.
Honorary Pallbearers, all other grandchildren and great grandchildren, included Dixie Thompson , Cara Hulick and her daughters, Kailey, Morgan and Kathryn, Suzy Meiners and her daughter Ashley, Stephanie Meister, Tara Pedersen and her son Cade Tara also has son Kyle now, Lacy and Abby Thomson, Shannon Thompson and her daughters, Bailey and Rikki, Cammy Brown and her sons Brock Thompson and Blake Brown, Jean Marie, Jenna, Jessica, and Jerica Thompson, Bree and Brooke Thompson, Kady Brauninger and Surtimer Brauninger.
Fred Bennett Thompson, the son of William Bennett and Cora Christiana (Osburn) Thompson, was born on a farm south of Anthon, Iowa, on August 20, 1917. Fred grew up and was educated in Anthon, graduating from Anthon Public High School in 1936. He worked for various merchants in Anthon before entering the Army in 1942. During World War II he was stationed overseas in New Guinea and the Philippines and stateside in Orlando, FL, El Paso, TX, and Los Angeles, CA. He married Norma N. White on February 15, 1943, in Hollywood, California. After the war, he and Norma returned to Anthon where they farmed for many years. In 1967 he accepted a job with Jansen Implement as salesman for John Deere, a position he enjoyed for over 20 years. When he retired from John Deere he delivered engines for ACE Distributors in Sioux City until 1993. In 1966 Fred and Norma moved to Rock Branch where, they spent many happy years. They traveled extensively during their retirement, having seen the Great Wall of China, all the Hawaiian Islands, New England, Alaska, most of the provinces in Canada, Yellowstone Park, and the Black Hills, plus made many trips to Missouri and Oregon to visit family and friends. Their hearts have always been at Rock Branch but they also purchased a home in Correctionville in November 2000. Fred's health began to fail after a stroke in June and he entered the Correctionville Nursing & Rehab Center on July 2, 2001, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, American Legion, McNiff Post #389, and Masonic Cerulean Lodge #550 AF&AM, all of Anthon.
Survivors include his wife, Norma; 7 children, Fred Owen who resides at the VA Home in Marshalltown, IA, Carol Jean Carter of Des Moines, Joan Lorraine and her husband Mark Meister of Correctionville, Douglas Alan and his wife Shirley of Correctionville, Norman Craig and his wife Laura of Browerville, MN, Steven Michael and his wife Sheryl of Sioux City, and Sandra Dee Brauninger of Storm Lake, 21 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, a brother, Walter E. Thompson of Moville, plus many other very special family members and friends, including Fred Brauninger and Larry Carter, who were very supportive during his life. He was preceded in death by his parents in 1959, a granddaughter, Anil Chere Thompson, 4 brothers, Albert Peters who died an infant in Arkansas, Marion (Friday) Thompson, William Henry Thompson, Jerry Edward Thompson, and his only sister, Mrs. William (Virgie) Eickholt.
Written and contributed by his daughter
