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Obituary for Roger Neil Thompson
Roger Neil Thompson, 64, of Frederic, WI, Town of Luck, passed away at his home on Monday, December 8, 2014. Roger was born March 26, 1950 at Amery, Wisconsin, the fourth son of Ray and Eleanor (Perkins) Thompson.He married Carla Danielson in 1970 - to this union, two sons, Jay and Jacob were born. Carla died in 1974. He married Ronda Nyren. They had four daughters, Jacqueline, Janita, Jari, and Jamie. He loved being grandpa and sharing the wonders of the farm with his grandchildren from the cattle to chickens, horses and mules. The role of grandpa to his sixteen grandchildren provided him the greatest pleasure.
He was raised on a dairy and crop farm where he developed his love of farming and the importance of learning. He graduated from Unity High School in 1968. He earned a Bachelors and a Master of Science-Agriculture Education from University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He participated in FFA, football, wrestling, and track during high school. He was also active in 4-H as a youth from dairying to leadership to softball. He continued to share this passion for farming, learning, and 4-H throughout his life.
He taught high school agriculture at Frederic and Clayton, Wisconsin, Taylors Falls, Minnesota; post-secondary agriculture and farm management at Watertown, South Dakota and Pine City, Minnesota. He was involved in farming from dairying with family help to more recently raising crops. After years of teaching, he dealt Black Jack for several years before retirement.
He developed a love for draft horses and mules through his father-in-law, Ron Nyren and Amish clients and friends. Enjoyment of working with youth and agriculture included being a 4-H leader, membership in Siren Ag Club, Frederic and Luck FFA Alumni, and the Northwest Wisconsin Draft Horse Association. He enjoyed the outdoors especially ice fishing and hunting with Ron, Canadian fishing trips with Tim, berry picking with Jim and gardening with Ronda. He had fond memories of teaching high school ag, working with the students, and Canadian fishing trips. He traveled to Japan twice as a 4-H chaperone and with his family hosted several Japanese youth. Recent years included involvement in FFA tractor pulls and NW WI draft horse spring and fall field days.
Roger leaves to celebrate his memory: his wife, Ronda; sons, Jay (Heather), Jacob (Motoko); daughters, Jackie, Janita (Steve) Nwachukwu, Jari (Marty) Nelson, Jamie (Conrad St John); grandchildren, Jaelyn Barkla, Tim, Jasmine, Maelee and Julianna Thompson, Joy, Kelita, Nevaeh, Micah and Levi Nwachukwu, Hudson and Emerson Nelson, Kateri, Patricia, Sophia and Mathias St. John; in-laws, Ron and Cecelia Nyren; brothers, Ray Perkins, Robert, Garry, Glenn. He is also survived by brothers-in-law, Leon (Sue) Danielson, Dan (Vickie) and Darrel (Sue) Nyren; sisters-in-law, Kay Thompson, Thresa (Jim) Russell; Tims mother, Melissa; special daughter, Kanako (Nao), Sakuya, Osuke and Anne Yanada in Japan; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Eleanor; first wife, Carla; brothers, Royal and Larry Thompson; in-laws, Ellsworth and Ruth Danielson; sisters-in-law, Marilyn (Royal), Emily (Ray), Nancy (Robert).
Memorial services will be held at the Milltown Community Center, Milltown, WI, on Sunday, December 14th from 2 to 5:00 p.m.
An online guestbook is available at www.rowefh.com or www.wicremationcenter.com . Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home of Frederic, 715-327-4475 and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center in Milltown, 715-825-5550.
