Duane R. Thompson, 81 of Northwood passed away surrounded by family Monday, March 18, 2024 at the Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN.
Funeral services will be held 1:00pm Saturday, March 23, 2024 at First Lutheran Church, 309 North 9th Street, Northwood, IA with Rev. Becky Sogge officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date.
Visitation will be held from 5:00pm to 7:00pm Friday, March 22, 2024 at Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 1st Ave. North, Northwood, IA and will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday.
Military Honors will be presented by the Edward Tosel American Legion Post 110 of Manly.
Duane Roger Thompson was born May 26, 1942 in Forest City, the son of Olai and Burlette (Kettleson) Thompson. He grew up on the family farm outside of Emmons, MN, graduating from Lake Mills High School on his birthday in 1960. He entered the United States Army in April of 1964, serving his country until his honorable discharge in 1970. On June 11, 1965 he married Jan Gerdes in Woden and they were blessed with two sons: Roger and Bryan.
Duane worked road construction for many years before eventually venturing out on his own and contracting out with other businesses. He created Thompson Builders from the ground up, and by his 80th birthday he had built: 30 homes in the Northwood Kensett District, 24 hotels throughout the United states, 4 Sterling Houses in Kansas and throughout the midwest, Fast Track Housing in Ft. Riley, KS, Terrace Oaks Estates in Spirit Lake, Lutheran Retirement Home in Onalaska, WI, apartment complexes in Sioux City, IA and Prior Lake, MN, The Rose in Ames, three machine shed restaurants in Wisconsin and Kansas, a US Bank in Rochester, MN, Kohls in Omaha, NE, additions to the hospital in Britt, as well as many grain systems throughout Minnesota and Iowa. They all stand today as a testament to Duane’s legacy.
When he wasn’t dreaming up his next project and testing Jan’s patience, he enjoyed time spent by the water fishing. In his earlier years he loved hunting, passing on these adventures to his children and grandchildren. A love of travel was ignited at a young age; He and Jan traveled everywhere, whether just the two of them or accompanied by treasured friends and family. He was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church. But, most of all, Duane loved his family and friends, he did everything and anything he could for them.
Surviving are his beloved wife of 58 years, Jan, Northwood, IA; two sons, Roger (Kim) Thompson, Northfield, MN, and Bryan (Marlene) Thompson, Slater, IA; grandchildren, Nicholas, Seth, Abigail, Zachery (Olivia), Austin (girlfriend, Grace); great-granddaughter, Hallie Rose; sisters, Janice (Duane) Williams, Forest City, IA, Katherine Peterson, Clear Lake, IA, Ellen Molskness, Bricelyn, MN, and Carol (Roy) Potter, Mason City, IA; sister-in-law, Denise Thein, Okoboji, IA; as well as many other close family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Olai and Burlette Thompson; brothers-in-law, Darrel Jenson, Larry Peterson, Gerald Molskness, Gerry Thein, and Duane Gerdes.
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