Larry “Tommy” Thompson, 69, of Sioux City, ended his long-fought battle with brain cancer, Monday, July 15, 2013, at the Holy Spirit Retirement Center.
The family will hold visitation Monday July 22, 2013, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Waterbury Funeral Home, Sergeant Bluff. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 23, 2013, at Waterbury Funeral Home, with Matt Gideon, son-in-law, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park, Sioux City.
Larry was born January 16, 1944, the son of William (Hank) and Juanita (Monk) Thompson in Anthon, Iowa. He attended school at Anthon-Oto elementary and high school before beginning his military career when he joined the Army in 1962 as a military occupational specialist. He transferred to the Army National Guard in 1966, where he was part of the 2nd Battalion Mechanized (Mech), 133d Infantry (now the 133rd Cavalry) and the 34th Infantry Division, aka Red Bulls, where he got his nickname "Tommy Tanker."

During his career in the Army National Guard, Larry served in different locations, including a training stint in Alaska and a year-long assignment in Fort Carson, Colorado, during Vietnam. He also aided the Des Moines community during the Floods of '93. As a Recon Specialist in the 2nd Mech, Larry was the only member in his group to qualify at the expert level for every service weapon. The Sergeant Major retired from the military after 30 years (to the day) of service in 1996.

In addition to his military career, Larry held other occupations including the Anthon Grain Elevator; Park Ranger at Little Sioux Park, Correctionville, Iowa and motor coach driver. He officially retired in 2010 from Sioux City Ford as their courtesy driver after 10 years of service.

In his spare time, Larry was an avid history buff and Yankees baseball fan. He loved 50s and 60s rock n’ roll, John Wayne westerns and showing off his pride and joy – a 1961 Studebaker Hawk – at car shows across the state.
Larry married Elaine (Thallas) Thomspon on May 29, 1982. He is survived by Elaine; his children M. Inez Cavin, Gerald (Angie) Thompson, Kim Chrislip, Desiree Fletcher-Hayes, Ashley (Matt) Gideon and Stephen Thompson; sister Linda (Jim) Edwards; brother Randy (Jodi) Thompson; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the family, c/o Ashley Gideon, P.O. Box 104, Martensdale, Iowa, 50160. A granite paver will be bought to honor Larry at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, one of Larry’s favorite places to revisit the history of Iowa’s veterans.