Margaret “Cookie” Thompson

Wednesday, February 3, 2016 6:18 pm

Margaret “Cookie” Thompson, 74, of Calmar, died Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah. Services were at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 1, at Calmar Lutheran Church, Calmar, with Pastor Phillip Olson officiating. Organist was Lorraine Meyer. Hymns were “Borning Cry,” “Children of the Heavenly Father” and “Abide with Me.” Interment was at Calmar Lutheran Cemetery, Calmar. Arrangements were handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Calmar. Honorary casket bearers were all of Cookie’s family, friends, co-workers and care-givers. Casket bearers were Gene Anderson, Mark Anderson, Dan O’Brien, Steve Pavlovec, Duane Albertson and Mike Wilhem.

Margaret “Cookie” Elizabeth (Kala) Thompson was born Sept. 2, 1941, the daughter of Joseph Stephen Kala and Katherine Marjorie (Blaess) Kala in Spillville. Margaret was baptized at home Oct. 26, 1941, by Reverend Quail. Baptism sponsors were Mrs. Clara Ellis, Mrs. Minnie Blaess and Harold Bloomfield. Reverend Lunde, of the Calmar Lutheran Church, confirmed Margaret May 8, 1955. Margaret graduated from grade school May 16, 1955. Margaret’s high school class was the first class to graduate from South Winneshiek Community Schools May 29, 1959. She married Einer LaVerne Thompson (of Sumner Township/rural Spillville) June 5, 1960, at the Calmar Lutheran Church, by Pastor L.C. Anderson. To this union two children were born, Scott and Beth. Margaret and Einer resided in Calmar for the next 50 years. Einer passed away Dec. 11, 2010. Margaret was employed by Frances Moudry at the Home Café in Calmar for a few years before being a stay-at-home mom. She graduated from Area One (Northeast Iowa Community College) in March 1976 as a certified nurse’s aide. Margaret worked for over 20 years at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah, as a certified nurse’s aide. Margaret was a member of the Calmar Lutheran Church since 1953. She participated in many church activities; volunteering in the church office, and was active with WELCA before a decline in her health. She enjoyed traveling with her husband on organized bus tours and watching TV. Margaret loved family and friends. She always enjoyed coffee with friends Saturday mornings at the Decorah Bakery and at the coffee social hour after Sunday church service. Margaret and Einer felt honored to be baptismal sponsors for seven relatives. Margaret’s joy was spending time with her two grandsons.

Margaret is survived by two children, Scott R. Thompson, Calmar; and Beth (Scott) Ferguson, Suwanee, Ga.; two grandchildren, Gage and Finn Ferguson, Suwanee, Ga.; one sister and one brother-in-law, Virginia “Ginny” and Paul Pavlovec, Decorah; three sisters-in-law: Jeanette Wilhelm, Surprise, Ariz.; Beverly Starkey, Waterloo; Phyllis Thompson, Decorah; along with many nieces and nephews.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Einer L. Thompson; her parents, Joseph Kala and Katherine (Blaess) Kala Koshatka; one step-father, James “Jim” Koshatka; one sister, JoAnne Anderson; one brother, Robert “Bob” Kala; five brothers-in-law: Ronald Anderson, Melvin Thompson, Ernest Thompson, Stanley Thompson, Melvin Wilhelm; two sisters-in-law, Alice Thompson, Lois Mae Thompson; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Benjamin and Amanda (Albertson) Thompson; one niece, Nancy (Joe) Alden.