Obituary

ROBERT E. THOMPSON

Rolfe - Robert Thompson, age 84, died on July 19, 2003, at Pocahontas, Iowa. Funeral services were held at Powers Funeral Home in Rolfe on Thursday, July 24, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. David Peterson officiated. Interment was in Clinton-Garfield Cemetery, Rolfe.

Robert E. Thompson was born on April 22, 1919, at Des Moines. He was the son of Harry and Mary (Shafer) Thompson. Bob grew up on a farm near Grimes. He attended Prairie Home Country School and graduated from Waukee High School in 1936. Bob remained at home, helping on the family farm. In the fall of 1941, his family moved to their farm in Pocahontas County and Bob continued to work on the farm until he entered the Army Air Corps on December 21, 1941. Bob was inducted at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and was sent to Shepherds Field for basic training and then became a part of the original cadre of the Dothan Air Force Base in Alabama, where he was stationed for 34 months. Bob was schooled in hydraulics and electrical and radio systems. His job was to keep the airplanes flying. Bob later served with Air Transport Command and flew all over the Pacific. He spent 15 months on Quadaland Island and serviced some of the airplanes involved in the atomic bomb tests. The highlight of his career was when General Marshall visited with him and a helper as they replaced a "mag" on the general's plane. In 1947, Bob returned to Pocahontas County to farm with his father. He was also a member of the Sioux City Reserves for six years. On July 16, 1951, Bob married Jane Randall at St. Paul, Minnesota. The couple has made their home on the farm since then, recently celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary.

Bob was an over fifty year member of the Rolfe American Legion. He enjoyed farming and continued to remain active in it.

Survivors include his wife Jane; the Don Hubbell family, , the Richard Johnston family, the William Ellerman family; and a few other relatives and many friends. Bob was preceded in death by his parents.