Thompson, Agnes

Agnes Thompson, 96, a Marion resident for the past 2½ years, formerly of Vinton, died Monday, March 26, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a sudden massive stroke. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 29, at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Vinton, with Pastor Mark C. Urlaub co-officiating with Pastor Linda Livingston of Ascension Lutheran Church in Marion. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton. Family inurnment will be held at a later time.

Agnes was born Sept. 5, 1915, in Shakopee, Minn., the daughter of the Rev. Carl and Hannah Ernst Ganschow. Her family moved to Des Moines in 1918, where she spent most of her life until retirement. On May 29, 1937, Agnes was united in marriage with Dwight Thompson in Des Moines. He preceded her in death on Jan. 11, 2001.

Agnes and her husband Dwight owned and operated Thompson's Display Co. and Party Shop in downtown Des Moines.

Agnes, in her later life, was a member of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Vinton and Ascension Lutheran Church in Marion. She was a member of the Vinton Women's Club and the Early Arts Club. She loved to travel and even did so after her 90th birthday. She had been to: Beijing, China; Moscow, Russia; Guadalajara; Jerusalem; Copenhagen; Egypt; Rome; Switzerland; Palestine; and her favorite place was the Sea of Galilee.

Agnes is survived by two daughters, Gretchen (James) Rider of Huntsville, Aka., and Dianne (Don) Utsinger of Cedar Rapids; one sister, Miriam Woolever of Peoria, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren, Becky Rider, David Rider, Steven (Elisabeth) Rider, Daniel (Alison) Rider, Thanh Diec, John Thompson, Zachary (Abby) Utsinger, Andrew (Kim) Utsinger, Roland (Virginia) Utsinger and Tessa (Tyler) Van Steenhuyse; 13 great-grandchildren, Valentina, Jaden, Aaliyah and Garrett Rider, Sophie, Ava, Seth, Bode, Zane, Mia and Margaret Utsinger, and Ray and Cora Azalea Van Steenhuyse; and special loved ones, Nancy and David Cochran.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dwight; two sons, Bill and David Thompson; three sisters; and two brothers.

Agnes' family would like people to honor her by contributing to their own church family or donating to the charity of their choice.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Agnes and her family.

You may leave condolences at or address notes to The Agnes Thompson Family, 13 Glenbrook Dr., Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Published in The Gazette March 27, 2012.