John Thompson

John I. Thompson, age 87, of Mankato, died Wednesday, August 25, 2004 at Oaklawn Health Care Center.

Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church in Mankato with Rev. Joel Erickson officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m. Sunday at Mankato Mortuary and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church, Oaklawn Health Care Center, or to an organization of the donors choice.

John was born August 27, 1916 in rural Blair, Wisconsin to Iver and Josephine (Olson) Thompson. He attended school and helped on the family farm. On March 18, 1945, he married Junice Tjorstad in Blair, WI. They moved to Mankato in 1955. John worked in the automotive industry as a mechanic and later at MSU in the maintenance department for 17 years. He retired in 1981. John was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. He was an avid reader, enjoyed woodworking, fishing, baking, and watching cooking shows on television. John and Junice traveled and wintered in Harlingen, Texas for 17 years.

Survivors include his wife, Junice Thompson of Mankato; four children, Janet (Douglas) Meyer of San Antonio, TX, Jerry (Jane) Thompson of Bemidji, Marty (Diane) Thompson of North Mankato, Joyce (Mark) Nelson of Puyallup, WA; eight grandchildren, Jacob, Jessica, Jeffrey (Heidi), and Jill Thompson, Benjamin and Becca Thompson, Ryan and Caitlin Nelson; four brothers, Tharold (Connie) of Madison, WI, Haldor of Black River Falls, WI, Bernt and Clifford both of rural Taylor, WI; one sister, Ila Haltner of Eau Claire, WI; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and eight brothers.