Thomas E. Thompson

Thomas Edward Thompson, one of six children of Florence Josephine (Flanagan) and Ozro Thompson, was born on December 2, 1921 in Morse Bluff, Nebraska. He grew up in York, Nebraska and attended District 27 Country School and later Milford Trade School in Milford, Nebraska.
In 1942, Tommy entered the United States Air Force where he served as an aircraft mechanic in the 66th Air Service Squadron. During World War II, Tommy was stationed in Sidney, Australia, and Gusap, New Guinea, where he contracted Malaria and was hospitalized for several months. Tommy was then stationed in the Philippine Islands, and finally in Okinawa Japan. In October of 1945, Tommy was honorably discharged from the service and returned home to York, Nebraska where he farmed. In 1950, Tommy moved to Glenwood, Iowa, where he began working as an auto mechanic at Glenwood Motor.
Tommy and Lillian Norah (Allbee) Delavan were married on August 1, 1959 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Glenwood. They made their home in Glenwood and Tommy also welcomed Lillian's children, Philip Duane and Mary L'nora into his life. Tommy and Lillian enjoyed traveling and visiting each other's families. He was an avid gardener and loved to share his vegetables. In 1962, Tommy began working in Omaha, Nebraska at International Harvester as a truck mechanic. Tommy also worked to rebuild their family home and over time completely rewired and sheet rocked the house. After 20 years at International Harvester, Tommy retired in 1982. He and Lillian became "snowbirds" and spent their winters in Weslaco and Austin, Texas.
In 1998, while working on a fallen tree at home, Tommy injured his right arm, leading to its amputation. He became very driven to relearn how to do things as a left handed person. He continued to care for his large garden and even learned how to operate the yard equipment.
Tommy and Lillian had been married 39 years at the time of Lillian's death on July 12, 1999. Tommy continued to live at their home in Glenwood until March of 2005 when he moved to the Tabor Manor Care Center in Tabor, Iowa. Tommy died at the Manor on April 18, 2008, at the age of 86 years, 4 months, and 16 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Lillian; and his sister, Sister Marie de Lourdes Thompson.
Tommy is survived by his children, Philip Delavan and his wife Mary Jane of Cedar Park, TX and Mary L. Delavan of Clarksburg, WV; grandchildren Dawn Lewis and husband J.L. of Austin, TX, Julie Horton and husband Louis of Granbury, TX, Wendy Jones and husband Bruce of Austin, Susan Moeckli and husband Ed of Johnstown, PA, John E. Whitehead and wife Susan of Garland, KS, Lesa Vandevelde and husband Kenny of Pleasant Hill, MO, and Becky McCoy and husband John of Akworth, GA; 19 great grandchildren; brothers, Richard Thompson and his wife Nora and John Thompson and his wife Viola all of York, NE, Joseph Thompson and his wife Lenora of Sioux Falls, SD; sister, Margaret Patterson and her husband Dean of Papillion, NE; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.