Obituary of Jasper S. Thompson

Jasper S. "Tom� Thompson, 86, of Fruitland, died Monday, July 18, 2005, at Unity Hospital. Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday, July 21, 2005, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2005, at the funeral home. Reverend Kimberly Bowles of the Island United Methodist Church will officiate. After the funeral service, there will be a time of food and fellowship at the Island United Methodist Church. After cremation of the body, a committal service with Military honors will be held Sunday, July 24, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Island Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the World War II Memorial. Jasper was born on July 21, 1918, in Rock Island County, Illinois, the son of Jasper A. and Effie L. Garrett Thompson. He married Charlene Strause on March 31, 1962, in Muscatine. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theater, in the 34th Infantry from April of 1941 until August of 1945. He was hired as the 17th employee of HON Industries where he worked for 33 years, retiring in 1980. He was a past member of the Moose Lodge No. 388 and Eagles Lodge. He was associated with the Island United Methodist Church. He loved woodworking and made many items for friends. He was an avid trout fisherman and enjoyed fishing the trout streams of northeast Iowa. He was blessed with the gift of gab and never knew a stranger with many conversations beginning with "are you related to�� His storytelling usually included many old time sayings and phrases. He adored his grandchildren and looked forward to their visits so he could tease and torment them. Survivors include his wife, Char Thompson of Fruitland; two daughters, Kimberly S. Thompson of Baltimore, Maryland, and Kay L. Chapman and her husband, Tim, of Letts; and two grandchildren, Kelsey and Ben Chapman of Letts. He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, and four sisters.