Thompson, James

JAMES THOMPSON

Cedar Rapids

James E. "Tommy" Thompson, 78, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday evening, Jan. 6, 2014, at Mercy Iowa City following a long illness. Funeral Mass: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Jude's Catholic Church, by the Rev. Mark Reasoner.

Burial: St. Michael's Cemetery, Norway. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Papich-Kuba Janeba Chapel West, 1604 J St. SW, and after 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. A rosary begins at 4 p.m. Friday at the funeral chapel.

James is survived by his wife, Rosemary; seven children, Jenny S. Thompson, Denver, Colo., Larry Lee (Gabrielle) Thompson, Utica, Ill., James E. II (DeAnn) Thompson, Kansas City, Kan., William A. (Carrie) Thompson, Cedar Rapids, Tamala (Danny) Buchanan, Carmi, Ill., Jolene M. Thompson and Jacquelene M. Thompson, both of Chillicothe, Mo.; 19 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brother, Larry (Peggy) Thompson, Upland, Calif.; sister, Darlene (Edward) Hurt, Center Point; and an aunt, Maxine (Ronald) Smith, Cedar

Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and Don Driscoll.

James was born June 12,

1935, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Verl and Mary (Morrison) Thompson. He married Rosemary Becker on Jan. 26, 1957, in Colorado. He had been employed as a truck driver for Fed Ex until his retirement. He and his wife returned to Cedar Rapids from Chillicothe, Mo., in 2010.

James was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of St. Jude's Catholic Church and also the Knights of Columbus in Colorado, where he served as a Grand Knight. He was a member of the VFW in Colorado and American Legion Post 148 in Van Horne.

Military graveside services will be conducted by American Legion Post 148.

A memorial fund has been established and

contributions may be given to the family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com

under "obituaries."