Nancy Jo Thompson
THOMPSON, RETZ, BEAVERLANDER, JHANGIANI, JAMES, HENNER, FLOWER
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 5/25/2021 at 10:30:48
Nancy Jo Thompson, 68, of Iowa City passed away at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics from a sudden illness on May 14, 2021.
To celebrate her life, a funeral service will be held Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City. A reception following the service will be held at The Kirkwood Room, located next to the funeral home. The service will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend. The Zoom link can be found on Nancy’s tribute wall at www.lensingfuneral.com. A private burial will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (http://act.alz.org/goto/nancythompson).
Nancy was born December 6, 1952, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Robert and Alva (Beaverlander) Retz. She grew up in Marshalltown, graduating from Marshalltown High School before attending Marshalltown Community College and The University of Iowa. She married the love of her life, Craig Thompson, on August 19, 1972, in Marshalltown, and spent almost 50 memorable and loving years together.
In 1974, the couple settled in Iowa City, raising their three children, Sean, Corey, and Vanessa. Being a mom added to the joy, fun, and pride that Nancy took in her marriage. She had worked a variety of jobs earlier in life but stayed at home doing what she loved most, raising the children she would later describe as intelligent, compassionate, and well-rounded individuals. As her children got older, she began impacting the lives of other children by working as a health associate and then principal’s secretary for Grant Wood Elementary School and Horace Mann Elementary School, retiring in 2007.
Nancy enjoyed helping others and was active in her community, specifically as a dedicated volunteer for many progressive causes and supporting fundraisers and other local events. She was adept at quilting and also loved golfing, gardening, reading, drinking coffee, art (Van Gogh’s Starry Night was her all-time favorite), and traveling. Nancy was happiest while spending time with her family and the love she had for them never went unnoticed.
In the final years of her life, she was diagnosed with dementia. Led by Craig’s indefatigable and loving caregiving, she felt tons of love and support from her family through the long and courageous journey with dementia. They and all who knew her will miss her love tremendously.
Survivors include her husband Craig Thompson of Iowa City, IA; three children, Sean Thompson of Iowa City, IA, Corey Thompson of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Vanessa (Nicky) Jhangiani of Chicago, IL; one granddaughter Nina; three siblings Janet (Ed) James, Betty (Lucky) Henner, and Herb (Jane) Flower; and many extended family members.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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