Thompson, Ronald Joe

Ronald Joe Thompson, 74, of Cedar Rapids, completed his circle of life peacefully at home Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013. Friends and family are invited to join in celebration of Ron's life from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home and at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Congregational/UCC Church in Cedar Rapids with lunch following.

Ron was born, April 5, 1939, to Leonard and Rosalie Potts Thompson in Esbon, Kan. In 1946, the family moved to Clemons, Iowa. His family settled in Conrad, Iowa, where he graduated from Conrad High School in 1956. His athletic success in high school included being recognized as an All-State football player and winning the State broad jump. At the age of 17, Ron joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served from 1956 to 1960. Football played an important role in his military career including participating in the Shrine Bowl.

Ron married Lois Small in Conrad on June 18, 1960. He attended UNI and graduated in three years with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. He then taught business education for three years in Fonda, Iowa. Ron and Lois moved to Marengo where he then worked for four years with his brother, Jerry, for Investors Diversified Services. Later he accepted employment with Burroughs Corporation in sales where he was top regional salesman for several years. Ron and Lois raised three children and later divorced. During his years in Marengo, he actively served his community as a member of Jaycees, Kiwanis and as president of the Iowa Valley School Board.

Ron moved to Cedar Rapids in 1984 at which time he expanded HDC Business Forms Co. Together with Marcia Whiteford, who he later married, their partnership built HDC to be one of the largest business forms distributorships in Eastern Iowa. He enjoyed and valued providing excellent customer service in designing and selling business forms.

Ron and Marcia shared 27 years together in which they enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad. Some of their favorite pastimes were encouraging and following the many activities of his grandchildren, playing cards according to the rules of “Ron's Book,” fishing and cheering for the Hawkeyes and Panthers. In his retirement, Ron continued to stay active by volunteering at local elementary schools, serving as Belden Court Owners Association treasurer, helping with projects at First Congregational/UCC Church, weekly attending his Silver Sneakers exercise class and helping to support his wife's many Quota International activities.

Survivors include his wife, Marcia Whiteford; his children, Heidi (Brent Balduf) Thompson of Ames, Cary (Rita) Thompson of Nevada and Kimberly (Andrew) Smith of Marion; his brother, Jerry (Shirley) Thompson of Fairfield; his grandchildren, Zachary Thompson, Brook and Bennett Thompson, Adam, Rachel, Joshua, Leah, Isaac and Aaron Smith; his three nephews; former spouse, Lois Thompson; and special friend, Irene Konecny.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Messages may be left on the Cedar Memorial website at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation or First Congregational/UCC Church.

Published in The Gazette Aug. 14, 2013.