Jan. 6, 1932 — Feb. 11, 2016

Gene Armond Thompson, 84, of Dowagiac, died peacefully Thursday afternoon, February 11, 2016 in Kelley’s Hillside Manor in Dowagiac, Michigan.

He was born Jan. 6, 1932, in Wabash, Indiana to Kenneth and Almeda (Shoemaker) Thompson. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Nedra White and Mary Ellen Ness.

Gene served in the U.S. Army as a Regimental Military Policeman in Korea, and once escorted Marilyn Monroe from the plane to the USO show. He was an accomplished marksman. He loved to work with wood. He enjoyed building metal model cars. Gene liked camping and going for scenic drives. His left his sons with his passions for morel mushrooms and green fried tomatoes. Gene had a love for music and played harmonica and guitar.

Gene will be missed by family and friends. He is survived by four sons, Mark (wife, Brenda) Thompson of Forest Park, Illinois, Scott Thompson of Schiller Park, Illinois, David (wife, Jody) Thompson of Goshen, Indiana, Steve (wife, Jennifer) Thompson of Burnsville, Minnesota; nine grandchildren; three great grandchildren; one brother, Max (wife, Debbie) Thompson of Marcellus, Michigan; former wife, Georgia Thompson of Oak Park, Illinois; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends will gather later this month at a date and time to be announced for a time of storytelling and sharing memories in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway St., Cassopolis, Michigan.

The family prefers contributions be made in Gene’s memory to the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, 30400 Telegraph Road, Suite 150, Bingham Farms, Michigan 48025-5819.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.