Richard C. Thompson
Funeral Mass is 11:30 a.m., Wednesday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. Burial is in St. John's Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home. Richard C. "Dick" Thompson passed away at home Sunday, November 24, 2013. Dick was born August 20, 1930 in Ames, IA to Henry and Maxine (Thorson) Thompson. Dick went to a country school and graduated from Shipley High School in 1948. After graduation he went to work on the family farm until entering the Navy during the Korean War in 1951. He joked with his kids that the most action he saw was sinking a camel (and his jockey) in the Suez Canal. Upon returning from service he entered the Iowa State University School of Veterinary Medicine and started his farming career in Emmetsburg with his father in 1956. Shortly thereafter he met his wife of 55 years, Ramona Amfahr, from Algona. They married on February 1, 1958 at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona and farmed in Cylinder, IA until his passing. Together they raised five children, Gregg (and Penny) of Ankeny, Gordon of Grinnell, Stephanie (and Vance) Downs of Ames, Paul (and Erika) of Emmetsburg and Brian (and Jill) of We...[more]View Full Online Obituary and Tributes
Des Moines. Dick's lifelong passions were his family, friends, sports and of course, farming! There was no greater joy for Dick than sitting around the kitchen table with family and friends playing cards, sharing stories, talking sports, and markets. Always ready with a friendly smile or helping hand, he was known by many as "Good Neighbor Sam", a handle he earned many years ago by how he lived his life. Dick is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jean (Bob); and sister-in-law, Carol Thompson. Dick is survived by his wife, Ramona, his five children; daughter-in-law, Marcia Thompson of Grinnell, IA; and two brothers, Jerry (Ellen) of Pequot Lakes, MN and David of Aurora, IL. He was lovingly known as "Grandpa" to his 14 grandchildren, Andy, Zach, Sydney, Jordan, Emma, Matt, Sarah, H, Alley, Jack, Cooper, Joe, Tate, Esben.
