Obituary of Mary Katherine Thompson (Schindler)

Mary Katherine (Schindler) Thompson passed away peacefully on June 24. 

She was born on April 8th, 1926 in Blanchardville Wisconsin. She graduated from Blanchardville High School in 1944. In the fall of 1945 she entered Augsburg College. She sang in the Augsburg Choir and enjoyed several cross country choir tours, performing in small town churches from Minnesota to Washington state.

In 1947 she met a vet who had just come back after serving in WW2. She and Jenn Thompson were married in August of 1947 in a double wedding.

The family lived in Blanchardville WI, Minneapolis, MN, Elmore, MN , Mt. Horeb, WI, Springfield MO, Bloomington N, Glen Ellyn IL and finally back to Bloomington. 

Through all those moves, Mary was the glue that kept the family operating. She was a voracious reader, loved her crossword puzzles, loved to bake, sang in many church choirs, was a member of Sweet Adelines, Bible Study groups and the “Augsburg Ladies Alumni Volunteers”. After her kids had all left home she went back to college and took classes for several years “for fun”.

She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them at the lake and at family celebrations. She traveled to Germany, Norway, Greece and many places throughout the USA.  She and Jenn often spent part of the winter with family and friends in Arizona, California or Florida.

Mary was Jenn’s caretaker after his heart surgery, and later when he developed kidney disease. After Jenn died she lived alone in their townhouse, and eventually moved into Presbyterian Homes assisted living and then into the memory care unit.

Her final days were spent with her children and her grandchildren (in person or in spirit) by her bedside. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Jenn Thompson, her parents, Oscar and Nora Schindler, and her beloved sisters Nancy Berg and Barbara Berg.

She is survived by her sister-in-law Irene (Berkley), “brother-in-law/son” John Thompson (Midge), children Julie (Terry Lipelt), Jennifer (John Wilken), Mark Thompson, MiMi (Robert Galle); grandchildren, Sara Fortner, Jesse (Jason Moen), Nora (Pacso Reynolds), Eric Mullin, Joe Thompson (Anne), Kelly (Tom Jerstad), and Troy Mullin. She is also survived by 11 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren, step-great grandchildren.

Service Saturday, July 30th, 11:00 am with visitation 10:00 am at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 8600 Fremont Avenue South, Bloomington 55420.