To know Bud was to love him. George Howard “Bud” Thompson went Home to our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, surrounded by his adoring family.
He was born in Prophetstown, IL, on October 18, 1930, to George and Gladys Thompson. He was educated in Prophetstown schools, and studied Art at Augustana College and the University of New Mexico in Taos, NM. He returned home to take over the family business from his father and owned and managed George Thompson & Son Livestock and Trucking company for 40 years.
On March 4, 1950, he began a 73-year adventure with the love of his life, Shirley Van Damme, who survives him. He is also survived by their children, Mark (Lorraine) Thompson and Becky Lambert; four granddaughters, Sara (John) Whitbeck, Andrea (Greg Ruff) Thompson, Allison (Ernie) Stone, and Hillary (Joe) Burmeister; nine great-grandchildren, Gracie and Bailey Whitbeck, Zoey and Quinn Ruff, Aletheia, Azariah, Ainesis, and Evangeline Stone, and Lyra Burmeister.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Hazel Ackeberg and Leone Pierson.
Bud loved his family, friends, and community. He served others throughout his life as a School Board member and President, Mayor, County Board member, and State Board of Education member. He was a lifelong member of First Congregational Church and served the church in many capacities, including mission trips. He loved Prophetstown, loved showing the town off to everyone, and served in many local organizations. “Bud” donated over 20 gallons of blood, and in his final act of service, he donated his body to science at the University of Iowa.
He enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing cards, telling the best jokes, traveling, and swapping tall tales. But his passion was for the arts. He often said, “the arts are not an extra, they are essential.” He loved painting murals and theatrical sets around Prophetstown and nearby towns, and has murals as far as India. He would share the experience and his love of painting with local High School students, including his granddaughters, and anyone else who would listen.
Because of his love of Prophetstown, his family would be grateful for memorials in his name to be directed to the Prophetstown High School Arts Department; Prophetstown/Lyndon Food Pantry; Prophetstown Area Historical Society; any local organization.
A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later time.