Our father, James Raymond Thompson, passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, January 26, 2025, in Onalaska, Wisconsin, just a few days after celebrating his 85^th birthday. Dad’s family would like to thank his incredible care team within Gundersen’s Hospice program; your support, compassion and love were truly a blessing for all of us.

Dad was certainly special to us but he also touched so many other lives too, and we hope the knowledge of how much he was loved brought him peace. He was a great dad, grandfather and great grandfather, as well as a loving husband, brother, friend and human. Dad loved spending time outdoors, providing so many wonderful childhood memories of camping, whitewater rafting, drive-in movies, stock car races, float tubing and boating along the Mississippi and Black Rivers; endless seasons of water skiing, snow skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling and motorcycle rides along the beautiful bluffs and river valley of the La Crosse, WI, area. As time passed, Dad developed a true passion for fishing, especially with his wife, Nancy, but also loved his annual trips to Canada with his buddies. His other outdoor passion was his yard – Dad single-handedly built our underground pool at our French Island house, and all the beautiful hard and soft landscaping elements, including a stunning fish pond with waterfall, at the Onalaska house he and Nancy lived in. Back inside the house, Dad and Nancy loved to play all different games with family and friends and couldn’t wait to bring out their change jars in the hopes of taking all their money!

Dad very much loved his family and left behind a legacy of 5 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren and 5 step-great grandchildren.

He is survived by his children James M. (Ruth) Thompson, Michael (Tracy) Thompson, Julie Thompson and Lori (Marty) Wallace, stepdaughter Deborah (Ernie) Tourville; sisters Ruthie (Steve) Brockman, Mary Lee (Ted) Groce, and brother Steve (Udom) Thompson. He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy (nee Jande), parents Ray and Rosie Thompson, sister Jeanne Meier, granddaughter Jaydn Faulk and step-grandson Andrew Walters.

Dad taught us a lot about life, love, respect, strength, hard work and pride in ownership. We are especially thankful for him sharing his love for the outdoors; many of the things we love today are because of him, and he has molded us into. who we are today.

Looking back now and appreciating all the memories, the favorite part of all…was just being with you.

Dad, you will always have a special place in each of our hearts and we promise to carry all the lessons you’ve taught us and to keep your legacy alive. It brings all of us much peace to know you are now happily reunited with your beloved, Nancy, giggling and telling wild fishing stories, smiling down upon us as our Heavenly guardian angels.

RIP Dad and thank you for being you and for loving us all.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.