Obituaries : Gary Laurence Thompson

Gary Laurence Thompson, 83, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at Meth-Wick Community due to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Mass of the Christian Burial: 10 a.m.  Monday, January 26, 2026 at St. Jude Catholic Church by Rev. Jon Seda. Burial: St. Patrick & St. Paul Cemetery, Watkins.  Friends may visit with the family on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Teahen Funeral Home and before the service at 9 a.m. at the church.

Gary was born October 30, 1942, in Cedar Rapids, IA, the son of Thomas Sr. and Mary (Oxley) Thompson. He was raised in Marion, Iowa and graduated from Marion High School in 1961. Gary joined the Marines in June 1961 where he served honorably for 4 years during the Vietnam War. After returning home, he served as police officer in the Marion Police Department, an investigator for the Iowa Department of Transportation, and Williamsburg Chief of Police, before settling in at Rockwell Collins where he worked for 38 years until his retirement in 2011. Gary was united in marriage to Maureen (Kuester) on November 2nd, 1985.

Gary enjoyed traveling the world, visiting 49 states and over 50 countries on 4 continents, experiencing everything from climbing Mt. Fuji and the Great Wall to exploring his father’s birthplace in Denmark. In addition to world travel, Gary and Maureen lived in England for three years. He was an avid artist, painter, gardener, and craftsman, and enjoyed cheering on the Hawkeyes and Cubs. Gary had a remarkable collection of over 100 nutcrackers which family and friends loved to see during the holidays. You could find Gary in the evenings sitting on the porch with a glass of red wine and a nice cigar. It was his greatest honor to serve in the Marine Corps, being a member of the Marine Corps League Cedar Valley Detachment #099, representing the Veterans Affair Hospital in Iowa City, supporting the VA clinic in Cedar Rapids, and providing color guard detail at local events.

Gary is survived by his wife of 40 years, Maureen Thompson; children Ryan (Karyn) Thompson of Deerfield, IL, Sara (Kyle) Kuennen of Cedar Rapids, IA, Alisa (Robert) Buchanan of Brandon, IA, and Kathy Trca of Marion, IA; grandchildren Arlo, Rosemary, and Valerie Thompson, Lucy, Asa, and Quinn Kuennen, Austin and Sydney Schantz, and Anthony (MacKenzie) Trca; four great-grandchildren; and sister Karen Meroshek of Marion, IA.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, brother Thomas Thompson, Jr., sister Bonnie Mottinger, and brother-in-law Robert Meroshek.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the family to be directed toward his favorite charities.