Elmer Thompson

Elmer E. Thompson, 92, of Ottumwa, died at 6:15 p.m. October 12, 2020 at his home at Prairie Hills Assisted Living. He was born February 16, 1928 south of Grinnell, IA to Lou and Florence Burnham Thompson. He married Lois Boren on August 4, 1948 and she preceded him in death on December 12, 1973. Elmer married Joan Ila Wilder on December 27, 1977 and she preceded him in death on January 6, 2015. A graduate of Grinnell High School, Elmer was a WWII veteran serving in the U.S. Navy. He worked 27 ½ years at John Deere Ottumwa Works retiring in 1984. Elmer retired in 2012 as a handyman and carpenter. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Gideon International, a lifetime member of O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion and Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Surviving are his children, Mary (Tony) Lee of Boyne City, MI, Andrea (Ed) McDowell of Ottumwa, Tom (Wanda) Thompson of Rockledge, FL, Lynette (Jim) Ruble of Ottumwa, Iona (Robert) Harding of Folkston, GA, Dee (Kim) Thompson of Tomball, TX, Amy (Don) Phillips of Ottumwa; step-children, Dr. Marc (Susan) Hines of Cedar Falls and Rev. Kyra Baehr of League City, TX; 27 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by siblings, Cloyd and Clifford Thompson and Myrtle Hart. Limited open visitation will be 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, October 15th at Reece Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.rfh-ia.com. Private funeral services will be 3 p.m. Friday, October 16th at Reece Funeral Home with Rev. Gloria Dovre officiating. For those not able to attend the service, you may watch the service live from the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Public graveside service and burial will follow in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military services conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.