G. M. Thompson

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 13, 2008

G. M. “Tommy” Thompson, 85
G. M. “Tommy” Thompson, 85, of Byron, Minn., died on Aug. 9, 2008 at his home.
He was born on Jan. 19, 1923 in Austin. “Tommy” created the Rochester Rural Fire Department as well as a number of other Rochester businesses in the 50’s and 60’s. He married Margaret Thibault on Feb. 27, 1943, just before entering the Army Air Force as a radio operator. He was a WW II Veteran. Mr. Thompson was noted for establishing many “firsts” for the City of Rochester. They include, Diamond and Gold Cross Ambulances; Rochester Rural Fire Department; FISCO Security Patrol; FISCO Armored Car; FISCO Printing and Rochester Mobile Telephone Company and Answering Service. For many years he had been Federal Warning’s top producer in the sale of Outdoor Warning Sirens; he was till active with Federal Warning up to his death on Saturday.
He was involved in many community organizations, including: Civil Defense, Chamber of Commerce, Elks Club, Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts, the Rochester Olmsted County Safety Council, Better Business Bureau, Arc of Southern Minnesota and more. He loved gardening, reading, history, riding his 4-wheeler, the Minnesota Twins, playing cards and being with family.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; five daughters, Faline (Kevin) Gossman, Rochester; Ginger (Dick) Craven, Wayzata, Minn., Mychelle (Jim) Maronde, Rochester, Theresa Churchill, Pine Island; Melanie (Mark) Keefe, Chatfield; two sons, Timothy (Susan) Thompson, Chanhassen and Vance Thompson, Rochester; siblings, Judy Moon, Austin; Nancy Tripp, California; Benjamin Thompson, Utah; Wanda (Bud) Overby, Austin; Ronald (Lorraine) Thompson, Ft. Meyer, Fla.; Dan (Carol) Thompson, Fairfax, Minn.; 14 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 at 10 a.m. at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church with the Reverend Thomas Loomis officiating.