Rufus B. Thompson

Rufus B. Thompson, 77, of Goshen, died Tuesday evening October 23, 2007, at Valley View Health Care Center, Elkhart, where he had been a patient since March. He was born in Boaz, Alabama, on September 14, 1930, to Walter and Bessie (Richard) Thompson.  He married Hazel L. Bressette in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 11,, 1953.  She survives. Mr. Thompson moved from Fort Madison, Iowa, to the Goshen area in 1974.  He had worked 29 years as a welding foreman at Goshen Manufacturing, a division of Gleason Corporation and then for 19 years at Fairmont Homes before retiring in 2002. A graduate of Sardis High School, Boaz, Alabama, he went on to study at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, receiving a degree in business management.  He enlisted in the US Army during the Korean War but was released on a medical discharge.  He was an avid Ford and NASCAR fan and raced stock cars and go-karts for many years while living in Iowa.  He was a life member of Goshen Eagles and DAV. He is survived by his wife, Hazel; two sons, Steven R. (Bridgett) Thompson of Fort Madison, Iowa, and David R. Thompson of Elkhart; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two brothers, William C. (Corene) Thompson and Ray (Mildred) Thompson, both of Boaz, Alabama. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, October 26, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. Mr. Thompson’s remains will then be transferred to Frost Home for Funerals in Ashland, Wisconsin for funeral and burial. Burial will be in Odanah Cemetery, Odanah, Wisconsin.