John Thompson

John L. Thompson, 71, of Norway, Iowa, died Friday, October 28, 2016 at his home after a battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a. m. on Wednesday, November 2, at St. John XXIII Catholic Church by the Reverend Dustin Vu. Visitation: 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. before the Mass. Burial: St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Norway. John was born March 15, 1945, the son of Francis and Alice (Becker) Thompson. John graduated from St. Michael's grade school in Norway and Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. After attending Loras College in Dubuque, he worked for Souvenir Inc. and Sanitary Farm Dairies in Cedar Rapids. While at Souvenir, he received the ABWA Boss of the Year Award. During the years with these companies John was a board member of the Cedar Rapids Jaycees where he enjoyed working on community projects. In 1976 John started two new careers. John took over the family farm operation. He enjoyed competing in the local corn and soybean growing contests each year. He was a member of the corn and soybean association. At the same time, John entered into the insurance business. He began as a certified federal crop adjuster, property adjuster, and mutual manager and then started his own agency. He was a member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa and a member of Grinnell Mutual's Million Dollar Hail Club for 14 years. John enjoyed collecting toy tractors and the big IH tractors, some of the nicest IH tractors in the county. John also enjoyed the outdoors; he loved to hunt deer in Iowa and black bears in Canada. John was a member of St. John XXIII parish, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Knights of Columbus. John was made an honorary member of the 'Left Handers Club of America' after his appearance on the 'What's My Line?' show in New York City. John wanted to thank Gary Meredith of Bloomfield, IA, for being such a good friend; John Neuhaus of Cedar Rapids for taking him bear hunting; Steve Gorkow of Norway for helping to keep his farm machinery running in the early years; and Dean Andes of Atkins for keeping the big red IH tractors looking so good. John also wanted to thank Mike Schulte of Fairfax for helping him with his insurance agency for the last few years. John is survived by three sisters: Catherine (Kay) Burke and her husband, Glenn, of Ryan, Mary Guckenberger of Cedar Rapids, and Alice Villone and her husband, James, of Sioux City; and nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Allen Guckenberger.