Gordon D. Thompson

Gordon D. Thompson, age 69, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, passed away Thursday, January 29, at his home. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 9, at Pleasant Valley Church of God in rural Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

Gordon was born June 13, 1956, the son of Fred and Jessie (Madden) Thompson. He grew up in Creston, Iowa, where he attended Creston Schools. It was during those formative years that Gordon met his high school sweetheart and the absolute love of his life, Lene Main. The young lovebirds were married on June 25, 1977. Together, they built a life defined by devotion, celebrating 47 years of marriage and 50 years of love.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Gordon was a railroader for his entire life. He dedicated 37 ½ years to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, traveling the rails from Kansas City to La Crosse, Creston, and Chicago. Early in his career, Gordon bought a truck and fifth-wheel trailer, moving from train depot to train depot with his young family in tow. These early days remained some of their most cherished memories, as they met countless people and made lifelong friends along the tracks.

Eventually, the Thompsons settled in Carroll County on their "little farm," where they lived for the past 35 years. Gordon found great peace in hobby farming, tending to his garden and looking after his cows and chickens. When he wasn't on the farm, Gordon could be found fishing, riding his Harley, or simply engaged in good conversation with good friends.

Gordon was a "rough but gentle" father who worked tirelessly to ensure his children had everything they needed and were exposed to new experiences. He lived by a simple but firm moral code: "Don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t steal", lessons he passed on to his children. He often joked that out of his two children, he raised "one in law and one outlaw."

Known for a legendary sense of humor, Gordon was always ready with a long joke or a quick quip. He was a true character: loud, jovial, and playful. His family often jokes “There’s a right way, a wrong way, and Gordy’s way.” While his bark could sometimes be bigger than his bite, he was a soft-hearted man who lived to make people laugh and ensure those around him were having a good time. His family was his greatest pride, and he held a particularly special place in his heart for his two grandchildren.

Gordon will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Lene Thompson of Mt. Carroll; two children, Dusty Thompson of Mt. Carroll and Crystal (Josh) Harrolle of Byron, Illinois; two grandchildren, Westin and Laina; two brothers, Allen (Rosalie) Thompson of Ames, Iowa, and Martin (Linda) Thompson of Tucson, Arizona; and four sisters, Julie (Paul) Wagner of Sparks, Nevada, Jolene (Mike) Richardson of Franklin, Tennessee, Janet (Mike) Liddell of Tucson, and Jennifer Newcastle of Austria.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Jessie, and his brothers, Galen, Steve, and Warren.