Steven G. Thompson

Steven G. Thompson, 75, of Onalaska, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, surrounded by his family and loved ones, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s and dementia.

He was born in La Crosse on August 18, 1945, to Tillford and Loretta (Tostrud) Thompson.  He attended La Crosse schools and was a 1963 graduate of La Crosse Central High School.  Steve married Carol Meyers on June 4, 1966.

Steve worked for Trane Company for 39 years, ending his career as a senior designer.  He was a member of the Trane Company 25-Year Club.  Following retirement, Steve used his lifelong love of teaching by serving as a hunter safety instructor for 15 years, a driver education instructor with DeGarmo Driver Education, a bus driver for the Westby School District for ten years and a bus driver for VARC until Parkinson’s forced him to permanently retire from driving. Dad loved teaching!

Steve was an avid Harley owner and a charter member of the Black River Falls HOG Chapter since 1994.  He and Carol rode to Sturgis 18 times and to bike week in Daytona, Fla., with their good friends, Frank and Teresa Boorn.  On one of their trips, Steve was awarded high-mileage club for the chapter.

Steve is survived by Carol, his loving wife of 54 years; his three children, Susan (David) Wise of Onalaska, Brian (Michelle) Thompson, of Fredericksburg, Va., and Caren (Mark) Johnson of Plymouth, Wis.; and grandchildren, Ross Wise of St. Paul, Minn., Brendan Wise (Courtney Terilli) of Minneapolis, Garrett Wise of Onalaska, Andrea (Kileigh) Thomas, of Oak Harbor, Wash., Alexandra Thompson of Arlington, Va., and Rosalia Johnson and Natalie Johnson, both of Plymouth, Wis.  He is further survived by his siblings, Thomas Thompson of La Crosse, Jeanette (Dennis) Thorp of Westby, Wis., and Nancy (George) Von Arx of Holmen, Wis.; step-siblings, Dennis (Amy) Blank, Ron (Mary) Veglahn, Noel (Ann) Veglahn, Cheryl (Gary) Howly, and Vickie (Steve) Everson; in-laws, Bernadine Gerke, Patricia (Gregory) Gerke, Mary (Marvin) Lampert, Kenneth (Sandy) Meyers, and Donna (Laverne) Clements; and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family members and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Tillford and Loretta Thompson; step-fathers, Bernard Blank and LeRoy Veglahn; and step-sister, Beverly Donaldson.

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 24 ^th , at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Onalaska, with Msgr. Steven Kachel officiating.  Burial will take place in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park in La Crosse.  Family and friends may view a livestream of the service which can be accessed through the church’s website at www.stpatsonalaska.com .

Steve’s family wishes to thank Dr. Schonberger and his nursing staff at Gundersen Movement Disorders Clinic; nurses, Alyssa and Alyssa at Mulder Health Care; Nurse Practitioner, Sonya Goode; Erin, his Speech Pathologist; Rec Therapists, Nicki and Heather; and his “breakfast buddy”, Miranda.