A memorial service was held Oct. 8 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson for Charles Dean Thompson, 89, of Ankeny, formerly of Grand Junction.
Words of comfort were offered by the Rev Mark Rabideau of First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson. His children shared family memories.
Charles Dean Thompson, known by everyone as “Dean”, was born August 2, 1930, on the family farm southwest of Grand Junction, the firstborn child of Walter and Capitola (Drake) Thompson.
He attended school at Grand Junction Community Schools, graduating with the class of 1948. After graduation he farmed with his father until entering the Army on Jan. 23, of 1951. He was discharged from the Army on Aug. 23, 1952, and continued farming southwest of Grand Junction.
In September of 1953 he met the love of his life, Connie Hanson, at the Starline Ballroom in Carroll. They were united in marriage on Jan. 23, 1954, and shared 65 years together.
Dean and Connie lived and farmed north of Dana, where their first child Paula was born. The family then moved back to the family farm southwest of Grand Junction where they welcomed another daughter, Lynda and a son Lance. The couple continued to farm until 1997 when they both retired and moved to Ankeny, where their son Lance already resided.
Dean enjoyed his morning “coffee” buddies at Hy-Vee, ISU women’s basketball games, going to dances with Connie and some traveling. Dean bought a computer upon retirement and basically taught himself how to navigate the internet (Connie commented that he was quite” proficient” at it!). He also enjoyed reading, playing cards, politics and meeting new friends and neighbors.
Dean was preceded in death by his wife Connie and his youngest sister Judy Bennett. Dean is survived by his children Paula (Randy) Carrick or Harvey, ND, Lynda (Gary) Geopfert Linden, and Lance Thompson of Des Moines; grandchildren Lonnie (Stephen) of Chicago IL, Reid (Amy) of Madison, WI, Haley Carrick of Des Moines, Damon Hoyt of Tucson, AZ, Shane Hoyt of Maui, HI, Ruby Thompson of Des Moines, Travis (Nicole) Geopfert and family of Knoxville, TN, and Tyler (Amy) Geopfert and family of Gilbert, AZ; great- grandchildren Alex, Ella, Destiny and Harper; sisters Ardis Kiner of Grand Junction and Dora Lee (Gayle) Morley of Caldwell, ID; sisters -in-law Pauline Irwin Jefferson and Colleen (Nicky) Slaymaker Lynnville; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
