Laurence P. Thompson

Laurence "Larry" P. Thompson 88, Marshfield, formerly of Edgar, died Monday, October 15, 2007 at St. Joseph Hospital in Palliative Care. He was born February 14, 1919 in Crandon, son of the late Paul and Katherine (Salzman) Thompson. On June 29, 1940, he married Mary Witeck at St. Mary Catholic Church, Wausau. She survives. Larry was a veteran of the United States Army, serving his country during World War II. For 18 years, he ran the service department at Sears, and in 1960, he became self-employed, operating Larry's Plumbing and Heating, Edgar for many years until his retirement. Among his many interests, spending time with his family and endless volunteer work brought great joy to his life. Larry was a member and leader of the Boy Scouts for 57, years and a member of the Order of the Arrow. He was also a volunteer and former Assistant Chief of the Edgar Fire Department for 30 years, a member of the Edgar Lion's Club for 45 years, where he was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Award, a member of the American Legion Sawyer-Drumm Post #393, Edgar, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10187, Edgar He furthered his community involvement as a founding member of Youth Futures in Edgar for 10 years, a founding member of the Marathon County Housing Association, a member of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Group, where he received the Alfred Hirsch Advocacy Award, and a member and former president of District #7 of the Northern Area Agency on Aging. Larry played a major role in the development of the Edgar Clinic and worked with Marathon County Commission on Aging and Resource Center. He also was a recipient of the Bronze Penny Award, given to him by J.C. Penney for all of his volunteer work. He proudly accepted the first Citizen of the Year Award in Edgar and for 27 years he had the opportunity to be Santa Claus for all the Edgar area children. He was currently a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Stratford. Survivors include, his wife, Mary Thompson, Marshfield; three children, Larry Jr. (Theresa) Thompson, Germantown, Ohio, Patricia (Jim) Johnson, Stratford and Richard (Julie) Thompson, Shellsburg, Iowa; six grandchildren, Pam (Don) Seeger, Colorado, Sue (Frank) Otruba, Iowa, Michelle Thompson, Appleton, Erica (Eric) Berkebile, Arizona, Nick Thompson, Iowa and Alex Thompson, Iowa; six great grandchildren, Jeff, Paul, Nicole, Nikki, Adam and Benjamin; and three sisters, Amanda Bicos, Florida, Esther Duranso, Wausau and Ruth Brown, Florida. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Earl, Paul and Neil Thompson. Funeral services will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 16, 2009 at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar. Rev. Susan Eidahl will officiate. Friends may call Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until time of services at the funeral home. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com