Wayne Gordon Thompson, Sr.

Born October 10, 1924 in Crandon, Wisconsin, the eldest son of Gordon Jerome and Sarah Mildred (VanGordon) Thompson. While he was young, Wayne’s family settled in Mercer, Wisconsin. Growing up in the depression, Wayne was always a hard worker. Starting at a young age, he shined shoes at his father’s barber shop, worked on the railroad, a logging camp, and drove a school bus- all before the age of 18, at which time he entered the U.S. Marine Corp. While assigned to the World War II Pacific Theater, Wayne met his best friend, Cecil Wraalstad. They both survived all four 4th Division engagements together: Roi-Namur, Tinian, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. At one point Cecil showed Wayne a picture of his sister. Wayne said, “If we make it back home alive, I’m going to marry her!” After the war, Wayne was invited to Cecil’s wedding. There he met the beautiful girl in the picture, Cecil’s sister Rhoda Maureen Wraalstad. They fell in love and married on December 14, 1946. Together they settled in Mercer. Wayne worked several jobs through the years, mostly as a delivery driver for Iron County Creamery, Gentile Distributing (Hamm’s beer), Superior Bottled Gas/Great Plains Gas. In 1969 Wayne was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Duluth, Minnesota. Due to his wartime experiences, Wayne drew much comfort and hope from the Holy Scriptures. Sharing this hope with all he came in contact with also gave him great happiness and peace. He especially looked forward to the resurrection of his loved ones on a paradise earth. Wayne and Rhoda raised 12 children together.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Rhoda and all 12 children: Sharon Bardon, Thomas (Denise) Thompson, Diane (Ken)Thoreen, Carol Graser, William (Chung Ye) Thompson, Linda (Glen) Rusert, Sonja (William) Michaelson, Johanna (Jerry) Slaughter, Wanda (Nathan) Lytikainen, Lisa Thompson, Wayne Thompson Jr., and Joshua (Tari) Thompson. He is also survived by his sister Vera Kohegyi, sisters-in-law, Genevieve Thompson and Valore (Frisby) Wraalstad; scores of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, cousins, Christine Thompson, “Biff”, other adopted “13th child”ù family members, and hundreds of special friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers- Thomas and William, his best friend/brother-in-law Cecil Wraalstad, brothers-in-law Luvern Wraalstad, Selvin Wraalstad, Joseph Kohegyi, Ronald Frisby; sisters-in-law Grace (Boruff) Wraalstad and Eleanor (Voss) Thompson; sons-in-law George Bardon and Phil Graser.

Services will take place on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at the Marquette, Michigan Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 2:00 pm.

A special thanks is extended to all staff of Lake Superior Hospice and D.J. Jacobetti’s Home for Veterans.

Memorials may be directed to the Marquette Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Swanson-Lundquist Funeral Home is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at swansonlundquistfuneral home.com