John Dee Thompson, 81

John Dee Thompson, 81, longtime resident of the Iowa River community, died Friday, July 6, 2012, at the Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center. John was a current resident of the Iowa Veterans Home. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 12, 2012, at the Iowa River Church of the Brethren with Pastor David Lewis officiating.  Following cremation, he will be laid to rest in the Iowa River Cemetery. Full military honors will be conducted by the VFW Harry C. Harter Post #839 and American Legion Post #46, both of Marshalltown. Memorials may be directed in his name to either the Animal Rescue League or the Iowa River Church of the Brethren.  For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234.    John was born November 21, 1930, in Newton, Iowa, the son of DeLoss and Julia (Barcus) Thompson.   He grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa and graduated from the Marshalltown High School.   John honorably served his country as a member of the United States Army from 1951 – 1953.  Following his honorable discharge he returned home and was married to Nancy Jo Dudley on June 28, 1954, in Gowrie, Iowa.  They made their home in rural Marshalltown, in the Iowa River area, all of their married lives.   John was employed with Lennox Industries for over 23 years before joining Wolfe Clinic for the later part of his working career.  He also maintained a Rural Route 5 paper delivery route for several years.   John liked the outdoors, raising pheasants, quail, ducks and chickens.  He and Nancy always had huge gardens which kept them busy during the summer months.  John was a “people person.”  He was a kind and gentle man who never knew a stranger and would have a good conversation with anyone he met, no matter the location.  He was also active in the Marshalltown community as a parade clown for several years and participated in the Gladbrook Corn Carnival parade for over 30 years.  If there was a parade in the central Iowa area, he was in it.  Above all, John was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother to his family.  He will be greatly missed.  John was an active member of the Iowa River Church of the Brethren.    John is survived by his children; John Thompson of Marshalltown,  Mark (Ann) Thompson of Conrad, Kaye Gilliland of South Dakota, Jim (Cindy) Thompson of Indiana and Melinda (Todd) Mullins of Garwin, his dear grandchildren; Candi, Megan, Sheri, Joey, Logan, Tyler, Caitlin, Jonathan, Brandy, Amanda, Ashley, Brittany, Andy and Carrie, his great-grandchildren; Alex, Rebecka, Oscar, Alicia, N’Isaiah, Nevaeh, Linden, Drew, Noah, Drayke, Berkley, Olivia, Nicholas, Mason, MacKenna, Campbell, Olivia and Nylah, his brother Duane and his wife Phyllis and his sister Nada and her husband Bob, as well as several nieces nephews and friends.    John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Nancy Jo and his infant daughter Michelle.