Anna Thompson

Anna was born on March 6, 1918 to William and Effie (Schlensig) Rethmeier on a farm in Dunlap, Iowa. She was the youngest in her large family of 8 brothers and sisters: George, Ernest, Nellie, Ethel, Dora, Kate, Jack and Mary. She attended Nelson Hollow Country School and graduated from Dunlap High School in 1935. After graduation, she obtained her teaching certificate and began teaching in country schools in Crawford County, Iowa as well as Council Bluffs and Omaha for the next 16 _ years. During this time, she took college courses in pursuit of a college degree. She attended classes at Iowa State Teacher's College, University of Iowa at Iowa City, and University of Omaha. While teaching, she met and married William Randolph (Bill) Thompson on July 15, 1950 at a Lutheran parsonage in Fremont, Nebraska. The union was blessed with two children: William Bruce and Janis Kay. She quit teaching after the birth of Bruce for 7 years to stay home with her children, but continued with her college education. Eventually, in June 1954, she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Omaha. She returned to her profession as a teacher at Belle Ryan Elementary School in Omaha in 1958. She transferred to John Beveridge Junior High School in 1961 when they moved from Omaha to a farm near Elkhorn, Nebraska. She retired in 1983 at the age of 65 after dedicating 49 years of service as an educator. With retirement, she was able to pursue her many interests: gardening, canning, cooking, baking, sewing, ceramics, and traveling. She became more involved in volunteer work for her church, Bethany Lutheran in Elkhorn, Nebraska, as well as for Alegent, Methodist, and the American Red Cross. Her ultimate joy in life was family get ¬togethers, especially with her grandchildren. Her husband died on March 5, 2000, after 49 years 7 months of marriage, but she continued to live on the farm with her dog, Britt, until February 2005 when she moved to Bethany Heights to enjoy carefree living. Anna passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at the Hospice House in Glenwood, Iowa at the age of 91 years and 11 months. She was preceded in death by her parents William and Effie, husband Bill and her eight siblings: George, Ernest, Nellie, Ethel, Dora, Kate, Jack and Mary. Anna is survived by her children Bruce and Lila Thompson of Seward, Nebraska, and Jan and Gail Andersen of Council Bluffs, Iowa. She has 5 grandchildren: Brad Andersen, Lea (Andersen) Brandenburg, Wendy (Thompson) Cole, Jason Thompson, and Shane Thompson. She has 4 great grandchildren.

Anna Thompson

March 6, 1918 - February 6, 2010