Paul Wesley Thompson was born November 20, 1933, to LeRoy and Mattie (Tusing) Thompson, in Albia, Iowa.  He passed away at The Cottages in Pella on November 4, 2018.

Paul attended school in Albia and Oskaloosa.  He enlisted in the Marines on February 15, 1952, attaining the rank of Lance Corporal.  He earned the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal.  He was honorably discharged on January 27, 1954.  Paul was a lifetime member of Post 1655 in Newton, Iowa.

Paul met Joyce Van Brogen in the Honey Bee Café in Oskaloosa.  They were married on July 21, 1956, in Ottumwa.  Together they had four children: Rick, Kelly, Marty and Cindy.  Paul worked at the Pella Canning Factory, Foulke Rubber, Pella Manufacturing and the Pella Community School system.  For many years Paul would help the many children safely cross Main Street on their way to and from school.  If you would be driving down Main Street early in the morning or when school would get out, you could always know you would get a warm wave "hello" from Paul as you would drive by, even if it was freezing cold outside. You could always know wherever you would see Paul, he would always say hello or give you a friendly wave. Paul enjoyed camping, fishing and family activities.

Preceding him in death are his parents, and his siblings: Lillian Thompson Anderson, Dorothy Thompson Bush, William "Bill" Thompson, Evelyn Thompson Lemonds, Gladys Thompson Miller, Agnes Thompson, Betty Thompson Waggoner Snakenburg, Juanita Thompson Bunting, Chester "Chet" Thompson, Donald Lee Thompson, Colleen Thompson Whitlach Hanson, and Hershall Lee Thompson.  He was also preceded in death by his parents-in-law Ralph and Gertrude (Miedema) Van Brogen.

Family of Paul and Joyce

Rick Thompson, Oskaloosa

Lisa and Joshua Roose

Colten Goemaat

Mackenna Goemaat

Blake Roose

Hayden Roose

Jeremy and LaDonna Langstraat

Hannah and Kyle Sykes

Tiera Langstraat

Drew Bartels

Alex Bartels

Jessica and Shallom Doty

Mercedes, Taylor,  Pyper

Erica and Ryan Groom

Libby, Ryan, Aydan, Ely

Kelly Thompson, Pella

Chasity and John Todd

Cason, Marisa, Aaron, Madison

Marty and Lila Thompson, Drakesville

Mark Thompson

Keller

Charlie and Katey Thompson

Carter, Lexi, Paxton

Jennifer and Jeremy Sample

Madalyn, Zaylie

Cindy and Dana Doty, Pella

Christopher and Jillian Doty

Rhedyn

Heidi and Stephen Patton

Asher, Ingrid

Andrew and Kortny Doty

Paul is also survived by his sister-in-law Ginny Thompson, and several nieces and nephews.

To the family