Janice Thompson

Funeral Services: Will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, 10:30 a.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle with burial in the Garner Cemetery, Bridgewater, Iowa. A luncheon will be held at the church following the committal services at the cemetery. Pastor Steven Broers will officiate the service.  

Open Visitation: Will be held on Tuesday, May 15th, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Tuesday evening at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Janice Thompson memorial fund to be established by the family. 

Janice Lea (Bochart) Thompson was born to Garold and Mabel (Jensen) Bochart on March 6, 1940 in Dexter, Iowa. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church north of Adair and was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greenfield. She attended Grove # 7 and Jackson #8 and graduated from Fontanelle High School in 1958. She was united in marriage to Lloyd (Doc) Thompson on Valentine’s Day of 1960 (February 14th). They were blessed with three children, Delbert (Todd), Tammy and Thomas.

Doc and Janice lived in and around Bridgewater throughout their 58 years of marriage. In 1990 they moved off the farm and returned to Bridgewater.

Janice began working for First National Bank in Fontanelle following graduation and retired in 2000 after 42 years of service. She made lots of special friends while assisting customers at the bank. Following retirement, she enjoyed working in the yard and making regular trips to the casino with her birthday friends. She especially enjoyed baking and sharing her treats with others. She was honored in the Iowa Farmer Today for her baking and was especially known for her doughnuts, homemade ice cream and ho-ho-cupcakes. Square dancing, polka, big band and country dancing were favorites of Janice. She sewed numerous outfits for square dancing. Many pinochle card games were enjoyed with the card club and with her family.

Janice was blessed with seven grandchildren and particularly enjoyed the role of grandma. She treasured watching them grow up. Special memories were made with the grandchildren. Particularly special to all were climbing suicide hill, hearing Grandma sing Bill Grogan’s Goat, puzzle parties, and overnight swimming parties during Christmas vacation, as well as Easter Egg Hunts. The grandchildren always knew to come running at the sound of Grandma’s bell. Janice also enjoyed the children in the neighborhood. Many neighborhood children would stop in and visit, knowing Janice would often have treats!

She was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, taught Sunday School for several years, served on Altar Guild, and was a member of the Women of the Church. She also was active with the Bridgewater Betterment Club and baked many pies for the Bridgewater Café. She served as treasurer for the Bridgewater Café for many years. She was also a Hospice Volunteer. Janice enjoyed helping others and shared her time and talents with many. A friend once told Janice, “It is not what you gather, it is what you scatter.” Janice scattered much…whether it be her infectious smile, her helping hand or her faith through serving and helping others.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Robert Bochart and Junior Bochart, niece Diane Jessen and nephew Randy Bochart.

She is survived by her husband, Doc Thompson; her children, Todd (Amy) Thompson of Bridgewater, Tammy (Roger) Jensen of Fontanelle, and Tom (Kathy) Thompson of Fontanelle; her grandchildren, Jacob (Danie) Thompson, Kristyn (Clay) Mercer, Jeff Thompson (Ashley Davis), Melissa Vorrie (Derek), Matt Jensen, Brett (Anna) Thompson, and Kyle (Sara) Thompson as well as 4 great grandchildren, sister, Myrna (Dwight) Hawley of Stuart, and sister-in-Law Donna Bochart, of Rockville, NE; several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.