Larry Duane Thompson

Larry Duane Thompson of Chetek, Wisconsin died peacefully on April 28, 2017.

Larry was born on September 10, 1933 in Eau Claire to Harold (Hap) and Abigail (Ab) Thompson, and graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School in 1951. After graduation, Larry enlisted in the United States Air Force. In 1952, Larry married Ardyce Larson of Eau Claire. Larry served two active duty enlistments and returned to Eau Claire in 1961.

Larry then began work for the US Postal Service, first as a mail sorter and then as letter carrier on Eau Claire’s west side. He always considered his mail customers his friends.

In 1969, Larry married Jeanne Daniels of Eau Claire. He continued working for the Postal Service and was very active in the Letter Carriers Union, serving as local president and on the state executive board. He remained a member of the NALC for over 50 years.

In 1978, Larry enlisted in the US Air Force Reserves and served in the 27 Mobile Aerial Port Squadron of the 934 Tactical Airlift Group in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Larry retired from the Air Force with the rank of Master Sergeant.

After retirement from the Post Office and Reserves, Larry and Jeanne built a home on the Chetek Chain of Lakes. Larry joined the Chetek Lions Club and was honored to receive the Melvin Jones Service award. He enjoyed golfing at Sunset View Golf Course with the AARPS (Old Farts) league. In 2002, Larry and Jeanne became snowbirds and spent winters in Arizona with friends old and new.

Larry lived with a serious lung disease for many years, but he remained active and enjoyed life. He maintained a beautiful yard with his John Deere tractor, enjoyed the occasional afternoon at the casino, pizza at Caddy Shack, and a cold beer on the front porch “surveying his estate.” He enjoyed all of these things until just this past winter. He often said that he did everything he ever wanted in life.

Larry is survived by Jeanne, his wife of 47 years, and his children: Gary (Bernice) Thompson, Ellen (Bo) Anderson, Diane (Greg) Holbrook, Eric (Laura) Thompson, and Amy (Bryan) Gillespie; grandchildren Amy, Nicole, and Aidan; and two great grandchildren; his sisters Vonnie (Roger) Sorenson, Bobbie Christenson, Pat Schlewitz; mother-in-law Betty Daniels; sisters-in-law Janet (Kirk) Lawler and Judy (Tim) Anderson; and brother-in-law Jim Daniels. He is also survived by good friends Larry and Karen Orr of Apache Junction, Arizona; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; one brother in infancy; brothers-in-law Earl Christenson, Jim Schlewitz, and John Daniels; father-in-law Frank Daniels; grandsons Ryan and Matthew; and lifelong friend Erwin (Erv) Harschlip.

Visitation for Larry will be on Wednesday, May 3 at Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home in Chetek, Wisconsin from 4 to 7 p.m. He will be interred at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, Wisconsin with military honors. The family will host a celebration of life at Lake Hallie Golf Course Sunday, June 4 from 1-4 P.M.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Atrium Post Acute Care in Chetek and the Mayo Hospice Team for their wonderful care, support, and kindness given to both Larry and Jeanne these past few months.

See you later Larry, Dad, Papa. We love you.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Chetek Food Shelf or the Community Table in Eau Claire.

The Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Chetek has been entrusted with arrangements.

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