Obituary of Jerome Thompson

Jerome “Jerry” E. Thompson, 90, of Duluth, MN passed away on January 18, 2025, at The Pillars of Hermantown. 

 Jerry was born on May 16, 1934 in Aitkin, MN to Genevieve and Hans Mattila. After losing his father at the age of 2, he was raised by his mother and stepfather Robert Thompson. His childhood and teen years were spent swimming, playing baseball, playing basketball, and earning money to buy his first car. His grandfather shared with Jerry a love for gardening that lasted his whole life. 

 Jerry married his high school sweetheart Joan Wick in 1955 and moved from Aitkin to the Duluth area. Ten months later, they had triplet boys, followed by three daughters. Jerry loved to spend time with his kids, coaching baseball, camping, attending their concerts, fishing, snowmobiling and taking annual vacations with a pop-up camper. He and Joan enjoyed a lake cabin near Finland, MN and later Minong, WI, on the same lake as two of their daughters’ cabins. In later years, his passion shifted to golf, and when he retired, he and Joan spent winter months in Green Valley, AZ. Jerry and Joan were faithful members of Trinity Lutheran Church of Duluth for many years and loved the life-long friends they had in the Trinity Fellowship Club. 

 After high school, Jerry started his career as a licensed bricklayer. He was proud of the many buildings he worked on as a masonry foreman around Duluth, and he would point them out on drives around the city. In 1983, Jerry became a Housing Inspector, then a Construction Inspector and in 1993 became the Building Official for the City of Duluth. He had a natural ability to invent, design or fix anything, and also built fireplaces and other brickwork projects for most of his kids in many of their homes. 

 He is survived by his six children – Kevin Thompson, Jeff (Melanie Goldish) Thompson, Greg (Sue) Thompson, Lynn (Rick) Marsh, Ann (John) Rolando, and Amy (Rick) Sundland; 12 grandchildren – Sean (Megan) Thompson, Kyle (Lindsey) Thompson, Sarah (Chris) Porter, Matt (Kim) Thompson,  Ben (Jamie) Marsh, Adam Marsh, Jacob (Bethany) Marsh, Jackie (Marcus) James, Grady Rolando, Kolton (Jenna) Sundland, Tanner Sundland and Ian Sundland; 10 great-grandchildren - Crosby, Mara, Kingston, Zoey, Easton, Hayden, Clara, Nell, Gibson and John Roger; sister Muriel (Vern) Moore, sister-in-law Carolyn (Dave) Ramsey and brother-in-law Herm Tellez; many other relatives and friends. 

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joan of 66 years, his sister Arlene Tellez and daughter-in-law Sue Holt Thompson. 

Jerry’s life will be celebrated at a private family service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Lakeview Covenant Church, 1001 Jean Duluth Rd, Duluth, MN 55804.

  Arrangements by the Cremation Society of MN - Duluth.