Eldon Thompson, 82, of Anamosa and formerly of Grinnell, died on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at Pinicon Place in Anamosa. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, September 27, 2021 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Pastor John Epperson officiating. The service will be live streamed on the Smith Funeral Home Facebook page beginning at 9:45 am. Interment will be at Bethel Cemetery north of Lynnville. A reception will follow in the Heritage Room of the Smith Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm on Sunday at the Smith Funeral Home and his family will receive friends from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Memorials may be designated to the Grinnell Tiger Booster Club or St. Croix Hospice and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Eldon’s family online at www.smithfh.com. Eldon A Thompson was born on May 6, 1939 in Grinnell, Iowa to Robert and Naomi (Anderson) Thompson. He was raised in Grinnell and graduated with the Grinnell High School class of 1957. Eldon was united in marriage to Kathryn Elaine Hockey on July 5, 1958 in Unionville, Missouri. The couple was blessed with three children, Kurt, Rhonda, and Rhinda. They raised their family in Grinnell and Eldon was a long-time employee and leader at Farmhand in Grinnell. His favorite job was driving students, faculty, and administrators at Grinnell College to their various destinations. He enjoyed making new friends and visiting with the students while traveling in the vehicle. Eldon was an amazing dad and granddaddy. The highlights of his life were the family vacations, especially the annual gathering at Adventureland in Des Moines. He held a passion for athletics and most folks in attendance would be impressed by his loud voice, especially the officials. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and St. Louis Cardinals fan. He will be remembered for the strong love of his family, for being his family’s biggest cheerleader, and for his personable and fun-loving demeanor. Eldon is survived by his son, Kurt (Kim) Thompson of Port St. Lucie, FL; two daughters, Rhonda Bjelland of Marion, IA, and Rhinda (Mike) Hagge of Hiawatha, IA; grandchildren, Ryan Thompson, Rick (McKenzie) Thompson, Kale (Brad) Brunson, Steven (Nicole Christenson) Goedken, and Scott (Danielle) Goedken; great grandchildren, Elijah, Isaac, Isaiah Thompson, Avery, and Camden Thompson, Ryker and Rielle Brunson, and Lucy Goedken; and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Harold, Howard, and Frank Thompson, and two sisters, Mildred Turner and Grace Riddle.