William Thompson

William Frederick Thompson passed away on July 12, 2015, after a 6-year battle with multiple myeloma. A Service of Remembrance will be held to celebrate Bill's life at the Roland Funeral Home, 204 East 5th Street in Atlantic, Iowa, on Saturday, July 18 at 11:00 am. The family will meet and greet friends at the funeral home on Friday, July 17 from 5-7 pm and from 9-11 am on Saturday morning. A luncheon will be served at the Lewis Community Center, 400 West Main Street in Lewis, Iowa, following graveside services at Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis. The family encourages memorials be given to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

Bill Thompson was born in Atlantic, Iowa, on January 20, 1948, the son of Betty (Bode) Thompson and Dula Thompson. The temperature that morning was -34 degrees below zero. Bill graduated from Oakland High School in 1966, and went on to earn other educational degrees and hours from Simpson College, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa. Upon earning a Bachelor Degree in History from Simpson in 1970, Bill embarked on a 39-year journey in education in various Iowa and Nebraska school districts. As follows: from 1971-76, Bill served as teacher and coach at Baxter High School in Baxter, Iowa. After receiving his Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Iowa State in 1976, Bill was the assistant principal and athletic director at Iowa Valley High in Marengo, Iowa, from 1976 to 1982. From 1982 to 1983, Bill served as the high school principal at Center Point High School in Center Point, Iowa. From 1982 to 1990, Bill served the Mid-Prairie School District in Kalona/Wellman, Iowa, as their high school principal.

Beginning in the fall of 1990, until retirement in 2004, Bill served as Superintendent of Schools for the Williamsburg Community School District. In 2006, after two years of retirement, Bill served as school superintendent at the Ponca Community School District, in Ponca, Nebraska.

In 1978, Bill married Carol Oster in Cedar Rapids. They divorced in 1991. Two sons were born to this marriage: William John (1982) currently of Las, Vegas, Nevada, and Michael Victor (1983) currently of Milton, Florida. Bill is also survived by his significant other, Cindy Edge of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his parents, Betty and Dula Thompson of Lewis, Iowa; his sister, Lanette (Rick) Crone of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his two brothers, Marvin (Melinda) of Oakland, Iowa; and Ken (Kathy) of Grand Island, Nebraska.

Bill and his sister and brothers were raised on a farm south of Oakland. Under their dad's watchful eye and insistence in the value of hard work, a respect for the land and agriculture was learned; sometimes, the hard way. Work on the farm had to be mixed with academic school-work, and participation in whatever sport/activity was in season at the time. From high school through college, football and baseball team participation dominated time and play. Bill excelled in a number of sports, being named all-conference or all-state in both high school and college. During the summer months of his college years, Bill worked long hours at the Oakland beef plant, but still found the time and energy to play on a number of area baseball teams for Carson and Elliot. Games were played at night, which meant an early rise for work the next morning.

Participation in these activities was very important to Bill and his siblings. While involved in activities at school and at home, "the Thompson kids" learned many of life's values at a young age which served them well as adults later in life. During the many years of constant involvement in one activity or another, Dula and Betty could always be found in the crowd providing support for their children. Marvin, Bill, Lanette, and Ken always appreciated the support and involvement provided by their parents.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for William's family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com


IN REMEMBRANCE OF

William F. Thompson
BORN
January 20, 1948
Atlantic, Iowa

ENTERED INTO REST
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
At the Age of
67 years, 5 months, 22 days

FUNERAL SERVICE
Saturday, July 18, 2015
11:00 am
Roland Funeral Service
Atlantic, Iowa

SPECIAL SPEAKERS
Jim Hartje
Roger Overman
Skip Kempnich

PIANIST
Heidi Hinman

MUSICAL SELECTIONS
“Beyond the Sunset”
“How Great Thou Art”
By Randall Breckerbaumer

CASKET BEARERS
Troy Thompson
Shane Thompson
Christopher Pultz
Kenny Thompson
Seth Thompson
Zack Thompson

HONORARY BEARERS
Roger Overman
Jim Hartje
Skip Kempnich
John Bothell
John Gilroy
Wayne Fisher
Eric Pultz

GRAVESIDE SERVICES
Oakwood Cemetery
LEWIS, iowa

The family invites you to join them for lunch at
The Lewis Community Center,
400 West Main Street, Lewis, Iowa.

Memorials may be made for the
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor
Norwalk, CT 06851.