In Memory of Jerry Lee "Stump" Thomson

Jerry Lee “Stump” Thomson, age 56, of Tempe, AZ, of formally Ida Grove, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at the Hospice of Arizona in Tempe, AZ.
           
Memorial Services will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 6, 2013, at the Christensen – Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa with the Reverend Adam J. Peck officiating.  Graveside Services will be held 10:00 AM, Saturday, December 7, 2013 in the Ida Grove Cemetery in Ida Grove, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 6 2013 at the Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home in Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com

Jerry Lee Thomson was born on July 1^st, 1957 in Ida Grove, Iowa .  He was one of two children born to Harold and Claribel (Kneeland) Thomson.

While growing up on the family farm.  He enjoyed helping with field work, livestock chores, showing  4-H cattle at the county fair, and scooping the loop downtown on weekends.  Jerry was active in sports and participated in football and wrestling in high school. After graduating in 1975, Jerry went on to attend Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, focusing on a career in construction. He then moved to Tempe, Arizona, spending his entire working life in building construction.  As a framing crew foreman, he helped build many high end homes and large apartment complexes.

 Jerry also became a huge Cardinals Football fan, with season tickets for several years.  Every year he would look forward to his Father’s annual “Snow Bird” visits for a month or so during the winter.  The last eight years of his life he spent with his very special significant other, Demitria Jo Burke.  Becoming very attached to her extended family as well.  The pure joy and true highlight of his day was being “Papa” to Jo’s grandson Sylas and all of the other grandchildren as well.

Jerry’s high school buddies and companions in Arizona, will remember Jerry “Stump” as fun loving, very social, and always ready to sit down for a visit with anyone he met. 

Those left in Jerry’s family to honor and share in his memory are: Demitria Jo Burke of Tempe, AZ., his sister Mary and her husband Jon Lageschulte of Storm Lake, IA., nephew, Daniel Wunschel and his fiancé Javen Pauly of Des Moines, IA., nieces: K’Lyn and Aaron Uhl and their daughter Addison of Norwalk, IA.; Angela and Mark Currie and their son Elliott of Overland Park, KS.; Abby and Drew Conley of Ankeny, IA.;   along with many cousin’s and very dear friends and neighbors in Arizona.    

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Claribel Thomson and grandparents Jodie & Lillian Thomson.