1923
Bruce
2017
Bruce Edwin Thompson
January 25, 1923 — October 17, 2017
Bruce Edwin Thompson age 94, died peacefully on October 17, 2017, with his family present in the comfortable surroundings of Cottagewood. The family wishes to extend deepest gratitude to the dedicated staff at Cottagewood Memory Care and the compassionate employees of Heartland Hospice. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Dora, in March of this year. They shared 66 years of marriage cemented by golf, cards and family.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 25, 1923, the first born son of Edwin and Genevieve (LaVine) Thompson, he began working at an early age delivering papers as a child, he graduated from Edison HS and served in WWII as a Sargent in the United States Army. Shortly after leaving the service he was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone, where he worked for over 30 years. In their employ, he moved to Red Wing, MN and met Dora Bjornstad who became his bride on June 3, 1950. He worked from an entry position, climbing the poles to Plant Manager at Northwestern Bell Telephone and was an active member of the Junior Achievement Mentoring Program.
Bruce was a self-made man with a creative mind, he used to say that he could fix anything but a broken heart and it was pretty much true. He could be a quiet and sometimes gruff man but he had a twinkly sense of fun and sage wisdom. A Lou Grant kind of guy that softened as he became a grandfather. He was an outdoors man who loved fishing, hunting, golfing, woodworking, and he had a running tab on his daily card game with Dora.
He is survived by three children; his son James (Janice) Thompson of Oronoco, MN, daughter Cindy Kotz of Maple Grove, MN, and daughter Jane Ann (Scott) Valentine of Winchester, VA; brother, Tommy Thompson of Cottage Grove, MN; and many loving grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bruce was preceded in death his wife Dora, two infant children, Mary and Andrew; and his sister Jean Flemming.
There will be a private family service held on Saturday November 4 in Red Wing, MN with military honors and Pastor Karna Hagen Moskalik officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Dementia Society of America or Heartland Hospice of Rochester, MN.
East Ave.
Red Wing, MN 55066
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 25, 1923, the first born son of Edwin and Genevieve (LaVine) Thompson, he began working at an early age delivering papers as a child, he graduated from Edison HS and served in WWII as a Sargent in the United States Army. Shortly after leaving the service he was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone, where he worked for over 30 years. In their employ, he moved to Red Wing, MN and met Dora Bjornstad who became his bride on June 3, 1950. He worked from an entry position, climbing the poles to Plant Manager at Northwestern Bell Telephone and was an active member of the Junior Achievement Mentoring Program.
Bruce was a self-made man with a creative mind, he used to say that he could fix anything but a broken heart and it was pretty much true. He could be a quiet and sometimes gruff man but he had a twinkly sense of fun and sage wisdom. A Lou Grant kind of guy that softened as he became a grandfather. He was an outdoors man who loved fishing, hunting, golfing, woodworking, and he had a running tab on his daily card game with Dora.
He is survived by three children; his son James (Janice) Thompson of Oronoco, MN, daughter Cindy Kotz of Maple Grove, MN, and daughter Jane Ann (Scott) Valentine of Winchester, VA; brother, Tommy Thompson of Cottage Grove, MN; and many loving grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bruce was preceded in death his wife Dora, two infant children, Mary and Andrew; and his sister Jean Flemming.
There will be a private family service held on Saturday November 4 in Red Wing, MN with military honors and Pastor Karna Hagen Moskalik officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Dementia Society of America or Heartland Hospice of Rochester, MN.
Graveside Service
NOV 4 (CDT)
Oakwood CemeteryEast Ave.
Red Wing, MN 55066
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