Harold C. “Bud” Thompson, 70, died Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at the Wisconsin Veterans Home, King, where he had resided since April.
Bud was born on November 7, 1944 in South Milwaukee, to the late Raymond and Margaret (Dahnke) Thompson. He was raised in the Plainfield area by his mother and his stepfather, John Gomoll. Bud enlisted in the US Army, where he served in Texas and Germany. He met and married his wife, the late Carol Brown (Robinson) while stationed in Texas. Bud later married Jeanette Cowen in El Paso, Texas, and became stepfather to her three young children. On March 10, 1998, Bud married his childhood friend and step-cousin, Patricia (Mattice) Cutts. When Bud was a teenager, he rode in the semi with (his future father-in-law) Glen Mattice, and made the decision that he wanted to drive semi. He loved driving, especially at night when he could see all the constellations in the night sky. He was proud of his driving record, which took him to every state except Connecticut, Maine, Alaska and Hawaii. Bud was a great cook, and he worked or managed various restaurants, the most recent having been Schueller’s Great Expectations of Waupaca. He grew a huge garden every summer and shared his bounty with others, in addition to canning his produce. Three of his daughters can boast that their dad sewed their wedding dresses, and he baked and decorated wedding cakes for his children. Bud loved to fish! He confessed to skipping school as a youngster, just to go down to the local creek to fish. He also loved to bowl, and more importantly, to coach junior bowlers, which he did for over 30 years, first in Arkansas, then in Waupaca. He was proud to be a Certified YABA Coach. Family meant everything to Bud. The closeness of his children and grandchildren attests to that. His step-father referred to him as a “party animal”, because he looked for any excuse for the family to get together.
Bud is survived by his wife, Patricia, of Wild Rose; his children and step-children, Debra (Mark) Schultz of Wautoma, Ken (Reba) Thompson, Mary Tyner, Tammy Campbell, Michelle Sharp, Honey (John) Brauer and Neiland Thompson, all of NW Arkansas; Trish’s sons, Christopher (Beth) Cutts of Wild Rose, Geoffery (Robin Rice) Cutts of Waupaca; two brothers, Ray (Deanna) Thompson of Oshkosh, and Ken (Margaret) Thompson of Wisconsin Rapids; three sisters, Linda (Gary) Gomoll-Russell of Plainfield, Joan (Ron) Gomoll-Kenowski of Custer, and Peggy (George) Gomoll-Harris of Packwaukee; his sister-in-law, Maggie Young of Minong; his uncle Rick Dahnke of California. Bud is also survived by 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Marge; stepfather, John; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Glen and Esther Mattice; a daughter, Sandra in infancy; brother-in-law, Matthew Young; ex-wife Carol Robinson, and aunts and uncles.
A memorial service for Harold “Bud” Thompson will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2014 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Emmaus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Poy Sippi, where he was a faithful member. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Per Bud’s wishes, and in support of life, Bud’s body was donated to advance medicine through Science Care, a whole body donor program.