Robert Arthur Thompson
April 7, 1918 — August 20, 2012
Robert Arthur Thompson, 94, of Cedar Rapids, passed away August 20, 2012, at Cottage Grove Place. Due to his wishes there will be no service. Burial will be in the Rock Island Military Cemetery. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion.
Robert is survived by a wife of 63 years, Shirley Thompson; daughter, Pamela Mahany of Cedar Rapids; a grandson, Brandon Carr (Heather) of Rancho Cucamonga, California; a sister, Janice Marsh of Sun City West, Arizona; sister-in-law, Verna Holmgren of Ishpeming, Michigan; nieces, Debbie, Joan, Julianne; and nephews, Richard and David.
Robert was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Ronald Mahany; brothers-in-law, Dr. Elwin Marsh of Sun City West, Arizona, and Lou Holmgrem of Ishpeming, Michigan; and a nephew, Dr. Steve Marsh of Sioux City, Iowa.
Robert was born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1918, to Arthur and Mildred (Anderson) Thompson. His family owned Thompson Drug Store on West 7th Street, the oldest drug store in Sioux City. Robert graduated from Central High School in 1936, and attended Morningside College. He graduated with honors from University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1940, with a business administration degree. Bob did graduate study at Northwestern College in Chicago.
Robert was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, Retired Officers Association, a past member of the Sioux City Museum Board and past President of Sioux City Advertising Club. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Sioux City. In his younger days he was a voracious reader who would weekly visit the library. He loved to discuss politics and the day’s news. He enjoyed playing golf with his buddies and playing racquetball. Bob had a quick wit that would put a smile on many a face. He was a kind and compassionate man.
Robert served in England during World War II. He was recalled to active duty in the Air Force for the Korean War in 1950. He reported to Chanute Field at Champaign Illinois and then to Camp Stoneman in California. He was then sent to Anchorage, Alaska, Elmendorf Air Force Base. Bob retired after twenty-two years of military service with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was proud of his military service.
Bob was employed by LOOK magazine (Meredith Corp) in Des Moines right after college. He lived on Grand and was able to walk to work. However, shortly WWII broke out and he left his job and joined the Armed Forces. Sears Headquarters in Chicago was his next employer. He was a writer in the advertising department. Soon after that he was recalled for the Korean War. After a few years in Alaska at Elmendorf Air Force Base, he and Shirley moved to his hometown of Sioux City to start a family and built their home on Sunset Circle. He retired in 1978 from Iowa Public Service Company, in Sioux City in the Communications Department.
Bob considered himself fortunate to have a good marriage and built a life with the woman he loved. Bob and Shirley met on a blind date arranged by one of the nurses in Chicago. They were married May 28, 1949 at the Thorndike Hilton Chapel on the University of Chicago campus.
Instead of flowers memorials may be sent to the Ronald L. Mahany Endowment Fund, St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Bob’s family wishes to thank the kind and compassionate staff of Memory Care at Cottage Grove and Mercy Hospice.
Robert is survived by a wife of 63 years, Shirley Thompson; daughter, Pamela Mahany of Cedar Rapids; a grandson, Brandon Carr (Heather) of Rancho Cucamonga, California; a sister, Janice Marsh of Sun City West, Arizona; sister-in-law, Verna Holmgren of Ishpeming, Michigan; nieces, Debbie, Joan, Julianne; and nephews, Richard and David.
Robert was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Ronald Mahany; brothers-in-law, Dr. Elwin Marsh of Sun City West, Arizona, and Lou Holmgrem of Ishpeming, Michigan; and a nephew, Dr. Steve Marsh of Sioux City, Iowa.
Robert was born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1918, to Arthur and Mildred (Anderson) Thompson. His family owned Thompson Drug Store on West 7th Street, the oldest drug store in Sioux City. Robert graduated from Central High School in 1936, and attended Morningside College. He graduated with honors from University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1940, with a business administration degree. Bob did graduate study at Northwestern College in Chicago.
Robert was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, Retired Officers Association, a past member of the Sioux City Museum Board and past President of Sioux City Advertising Club. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Sioux City. In his younger days he was a voracious reader who would weekly visit the library. He loved to discuss politics and the day’s news. He enjoyed playing golf with his buddies and playing racquetball. Bob had a quick wit that would put a smile on many a face. He was a kind and compassionate man.
Robert served in England during World War II. He was recalled to active duty in the Air Force for the Korean War in 1950. He reported to Chanute Field at Champaign Illinois and then to Camp Stoneman in California. He was then sent to Anchorage, Alaska, Elmendorf Air Force Base. Bob retired after twenty-two years of military service with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was proud of his military service.
Bob was employed by LOOK magazine (Meredith Corp) in Des Moines right after college. He lived on Grand and was able to walk to work. However, shortly WWII broke out and he left his job and joined the Armed Forces. Sears Headquarters in Chicago was his next employer. He was a writer in the advertising department. Soon after that he was recalled for the Korean War. After a few years in Alaska at Elmendorf Air Force Base, he and Shirley moved to his hometown of Sioux City to start a family and built their home on Sunset Circle. He retired in 1978 from Iowa Public Service Company, in Sioux City in the Communications Department.
Bob considered himself fortunate to have a good marriage and built a life with the woman he loved. Bob and Shirley met on a blind date arranged by one of the nurses in Chicago. They were married May 28, 1949 at the Thorndike Hilton Chapel on the University of Chicago campus.
Instead of flowers memorials may be sent to the Ronald L. Mahany Endowment Fund, St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Bob’s family wishes to thank the kind and compassionate staff of Memory Care at Cottage Grove and Mercy Hospice.
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