Leland C. Thompson, age 91, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 9, 2022, the day after his 91st birthday.
He was born in Scandinavia on April 8, 1931, the son of Norman and Gladys (Sodersten) Thompson. He married Lois Jenson on September 29, 1951 at the Scandinavia Lutheran Church and celebrated 66 years together. She preceded him in death on December 19, 2017. Lee attended the Union Free high school in Scandinavia. After graduation, he attended one semester at University Wisconsin-Stevens Point, but left to tend to the family farm. He worked at the Scandinavia Creamery and also joined the National Guard. In the early 1950s Lee began work for the Wisconsin Gas Company, working over 40 years, retiring in 1994. Lee was an active community member his entire life. He and Lois were longtime members of Trinity Lutheran Church. He proudly served with the Waupaca Volunteer Fire Department for 42 years, retiring in 2002, serving as the Fire Chief for 32 years.
One of his many passions was baseball. He never missed a baseball game his entire high school career. At the age of 16, he joined the BABA, playing for the Scandinavia Vikings. Eventually, he joined the Waupaca Lakemen. Not only did he play baseball, he coached and managed the team before taking the position of General Manager. He “officially retired” in 2016 at age 85, having been involved in BABA for 70 of its 71 years of existence.
Lee had a passion for the outdoors. Deer hunting at the “Shack” in Scandinavia was something he looked forward to each year. He loved snowmobiling, and was an active member of the Viking Snowmobile club. He enjoyed golf, bowling, pitching horseshoes and shooting pool in the local leagues, competing well into his 80s. He was one of the founding members of the Waupaca Pool League. Lee loved to fish. He was fortunate to have fished in Canada with Al Pohl’s fishing group for almost 50 years. He kept a journal of the happenings of the Canadian fishing trips, and published them in the Waupaca County Post. His stories were a big hit with many readers. He loved fishing the Chain O’lakes, the Wolf River, and made many annual fishing trips throughout Wisconsin. He spent winters ice fishing with his dad and other family members and friends. Lee had a passion for helping others. He never hesitated to lend a helping hand. He was very proud of his commitment to donate blood to the Red Cross blood drives, donating faithfully until his age didn’t allow for it. Lee loved Waupaca and was very dedicated to the community. He had an infectious smile, a twinkle in his eye, and greeted everyone he knew with a friendly hello or firm handshake. Lee was most passionate for his time spent with family. We were so blessed to be able to share many wonderful family vacations. Time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave him much pleasure. We will always remember how he embraced life, loved his family, and how he made every family gathering a memory.
Lee is survived by his children: Ted (Julie) Thompson of Waupaca, Tim (Kathy) Thompson of West Salem, Tom “Bomber” Thompson of Waupaca, Tami (Greg) Hansen of Green Bay, Troy (Ken Kamrowski) Thompson of Henderson, NV, and Tricia (Jerry) Deuman of Waupaca; grandchildren: Erin (Joshua) Podvin of Athens, GA; Lindsey (Chris) Slack of Roswell, GA; Samantha (William) Percoski of Colorado Springs, CO; Seth Deuman (fiancee: Kirsten Arm) of Chapel Hill, NC, and Brady (Brogan) Deuman of Waupaca, six great-grandsons: Henry, Sam, and George Slack, Amos and Charlie Podvin, and Lou Percoski. Lee is further survived by his sister, Mona Raimann of Oshkosh, WI; brothers-in-law, Reuben (Jane) Jenson and Herbert Jenson of Waupaca, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his parents; a sister, Lulu Tesch; brothers-in-law: Herb Tesch, Robert Raimann, Vern Oehlke, and James Swenson, and sisters-in-law: Jean Oehlke, Donna Swenson, and Joyce Jenson.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waupaca with Rev. Andy Behrendt officiating. Interment of cremains will be in the Scandinavia Lutheran Cemetery. A memorial visitation will be held at the church on Thursday, April 21 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., and again on Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated for the Waupaca Fire Dept. or Trinity Lutheran Church in the name of Leland Thompson. The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Our family would like to thank the staff at Waupaca Elder Care who cared for Dad for one year, and also the staff at Bethany Home for his care the past six months. We are thankful to Heartland Hospice for assisting with his care these past few months. You all touched our hearts with the love and respect you showed while caring for our father. “Dad, my mind still talks to you. My heart still looks for you. My soul knows you are at peace.”