Howard L. Thompson

Howard Thompson, 85, of Kansas City, MO, passed away January 4, 2015. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, January 12, at St. Catherine of Siena Church, located at 4101 East 105th Terrace, Kansas City, MO, with a rosary at 5:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. January 13 at the church. Memorial contributions may be given to International Life Services, 2606 West 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90057, in lieu of flowers.

Howard was born July 22, 1929, as the second son of Clarence James and Alta Rae (Hooker) Thompson, in Chillicothe, MO. Howard was raised in Kansas City, MO, where he met and married the love of his life, Wilmena Vandegaer. Their 64-year union resulted in 8 children and ended only with Howard?s death. Wilmena?s health and well-being were Howard?s top priorities until the day he died, and in their old age, both showed what true tenderness and caring for another were all about.

Howard graduated from Rockhurst College with a degree in economics and also served in the Army reserves. For years, he worked at the US Department of Agriculture. Howard put his experience there to good use in his own backyard garden, producing some of the finest tomatoes ever to grace the Heartland. He loved the outdoors and took his large family on many memorable camping trips. A particular favorite was trout fishing in Bennett Springs State Park with his extended family. Howard was also a man of strong faith, and he shared his gifts with the Church by serving at various times as a lector, choir member, cantor and Eucharistic minister.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Blanche Marie Peck, and brother, Albert Ray. He is survived by his wife, Wilmena, and their eight children: son, James Howard and wife Earlene; daughter, Kathleen Marie; son, Stephen Matthew and wife, Clara Knapp; son, Michael Edmond; daughter, Therese Rose DeWitt; son, Paul Justin and wife Beverly; daughter, Christina Lynn Ingersoll and husband, Lief; son, John Patrick and wife Monica; fourteen grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Margaret Gates of Chillicothe, MO, and Gladys Kingsolver of Littleton, CO; and many nieces and nephews.