Memorial

Long time Cedar Rapids resident, C.A. “Pete” Thompson, 93, died on June 22, 2024.

Claude Arthur Thompson was born April 21, 1931, in Cambria, Illinois.  He was a wonderful son and respected young man wherever he and his mother lived.  At an early age of 5, he collected nickels from bystanders as he sat on the hood of a car and sang songs outside a tavern, in Manteno, Illinois. He had fond memories of his time in Manteno where he earned his lifelong nickname, “Pete”. He graduated in 1949 from Morris High School where he was a football and basketball standout; radio announcers would reference his sports career as ‘The Pete Thompson Era’.

On September 12, 1952, he married Marien Janet “Mimi” Berge in Morris, Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a B.S. in Accounting in 1954, and then qualified for Officer Candidate School. After completing OCS in Newport, Rhode Island and Naval Supply Corp School in Athens, Georgia, he reported for duty aboard the USS Haynsworth.  This tour was part of a vital peacekeeping force during the Suez Canal crisis in 1956. He was honorably discharged in 1958 with the rank of Lieutenant and served an additional ten years in the Navy Reserves.

Pete and Mimi had three daughters, Jayne, Carol and Kathy. Nothing brought him more joy than spending time with them, supporting them in all their activities and taking them on a variety of family summer vacations. 

Upon discharge from the Navy, Pete was employed as an Auditor at Ernst & Ernst in Chicago, Illinois until 1963 when he made the decision to move his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He took a position at Amana Refrigeration where he retired in 1992 as the Senior Vice President of Finance. Pete was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and served on the church council. He was a member of the Red Cross Advisory Board, volunteered his time to Junior Achievement, and was a mentor at the SCORE Office. 

Pete enjoyed fishing with friends and family. From a yearly guy’s fishing trip to Canada to teaching his daughters to fish, and fishing with Mimi, Pete loved being out on the water, driving the boat, and enjoyed shore breakfasts and lunches. Pete also enjoyed golfing with friends and as a part of his work at Amama, he was a host for golfers and celebrities who would attend the yearly event, known as the Amana VIP at Finkbine Golf Course. He was assigned to many celebrity guests and his favorite part of this event was being the blackjack dealer at Casino Night.

Pete treasured his time traveling with Mimi after retirement, as well as playing with and visiting his grandchildren. As they grew in age, he enjoyed meaningful conversations with them as well as telling them stories and jokes. Pete was a long-time Hawkeye fan and cheered many basketball and football teams through the ups and downs of the sports seasons. He had a great sense of humor, was compassionate, kind and humble. 

Pete was preceded in death by his mother, Grace Classens, his father, Bert Thompson, his aunt and uncle, Howard and Arah Lovel and brothers, Paul (Gladys) and Joe (Bobbi) Chitwood.

Pete’s survivors include his wife of 71 years, Mimi; daughters Jayne Thompson (Jack Hayes) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Carol Vance (Gaylen) of Solon, Iowa, and Kathy Slaman (Kevin) of Marion, Iowa; grandchildren Dan (Nina), Matt, Katrina, Ben (Kate), Jacob, Sammy, Kari, Tyler, Jay; great-grandchildren Peyton, Cooper, and Ryatt.

Visitation will be held at Cedar Memorial on Friday, June 28 from 5:00-7:00 pm. The funeral will be at Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Saturday, June 29, with visitation at 10:00 am. An 11:00 service will be followed by a graveside service at Cedar Memorial.

Memorial gifts: Camp Courageous and Our Savior's Lutheran Church.