Theodore (Ted) E. Thompson II
Theodore (Ted) Edward Thompson II passed away at the Iowa Veteran’s Home on Sept. 8, 2025. Ted was born on Aug. 3, 1945, to Ed and Evelyn Thompson. Ted was raised in Poplar Springs, Md., by his grandparents, Leroy and Irene Thompson. Ted had many fond memories of growing up with his uncle David in the family’s two-story farmhouse and spending time with his beloved aunt Vivian and her son Keith.
Ted and his first wife Lynn had three children together: Robyn, Eve and infant Teddy, who passed away shortly after birth. Ted and Lynn remained friends after their divorce. Ted served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and received an honorable discharge.
Ted met his wife Vivian on Friday, Nov. 13, 1981, in a bar in Rochester, Minn. While Friday the 13th is normally an unlucky day, it turned out to be the luckiest day of Ted’s life. They married on March 6, 1982, and moved to Iowa. Ted and Vivian raised their daughters Theresa, Christina and Sada near Elkader and Ted dearly loved boating, camping and fishing on the Mississippi River as well as hunting deer in the hills of northeast Iowa.
In addition to his outdoor hobbies, Ted enjoyed writing stories and doing woodworking projects. Ted was proud of his sarcastic sense of humor. During his final months, Ted took great joy from watching dozens of birds at the birdfeeder outside of his window at the Iowa Veteran’s Home and loudly protested his daughters’ labeling of his birdies as “flying pigs.”
Ted is survived by his wife of 43 years, Vivian, as well as daughters Eve (Kenny) Gordon, Theresa (Kraig) Jones, Christina Thompson and Sada Thompson, as well as grandchildren Kenneth Gordon Jr. (McKenzie), Katelyn Gordon and Arya Rose Jones. Ted is also survived by great-grandson Asher Gordon. Ted’s cousin Keith and aunt Sandra will also miss him.
Ted was pre-deceased by his “Mother” and “Daddy,” Leroy and Irene Thompson; his father, Ed Thompson and step-mother Kitty Thompson; his half-brother Leroy Thompson; his beloved aunt Vivian Thompson Stewart; and his infant son, Teddy.
Services to be announced at a later date.
