James Thomson, 78

Dec. 14, 1939 —

Aug. 2, 2018

 

Cresco - James R. Thomson, 78, of Cresco, Iowa, died Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, at home surrounded by his family.

There will be a private burial and family gathering at a later date.

James “Jim” Robert Thomson was born Dec. 14, 1939, in Cresco, Iowa, the son of J.A. (Jean) and Marie (Mitchell) Thomson. He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Kratz, on the hottest day of the year, Aug. 8, 1959, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. 

Jim was a passionate outdoorsman. He sold ownership of Cresco Union Savings Bank to Jack Thomson, and moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1970. He pursued a career in banking and many outdoor adventures. He completed three solo canoe trips, taking three weeks each, down the Yukon River. He was a great hunter and fisherman, until his desire to hunt became a desire to capture the beauty of animals with photography. Jim felt very at home on a boat in the water. When he and Carol moved to Washington, they spent many hours on their 32-foot trawler Baby Grand. They circumnavigated the San Juan Islands and the Canadian Gulf Islands. 

The couple started their life together in Berkeley Calif., later living in Cresco, Fairbanks, Boise, Idaho, Port Ludlow, Wash. and Danbury, Wis. and wintering in Punta Gorda, Fla. In 2003 they built a house on the Upper Iowa River near Lime Springs, Iowa. Life finally came full circle when they moved back to Cresco in 2016. 

Jim was an environmentalist and avid reader. The inside joke was, he and Carol had to move because he had read all the books in the local library. He was a kind, quiet and modest man, not given to calling attention to himself.  

He is survived by his wife, Carol of Cresco; son, Mark (Kathy) Thomson of McDonough, Ga.; daughter, Janel (Randy) Cray of Lime Springs; grandchildren, Nolan Thomson of Salt Lake City, Utah, Alyssa Thomson of Atlanta, Ga., Matthew Cray of South St. Paul, Minn., Andrea (Ben) Steffen of Stewartville, Minn. and Sydney Cray of Arvada, Colo.; great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Elliott and Winfield Steffen; nieces, Kari (Lisa Schultz) Larson of Maiden Rock, Wis. and Maria (Dw Miller) Larson of Bellingham, Wash.; nephew, Dana Larson of Carmel Valley, Calif.; his sister-in-law, Deanna Kratz (Bob) Codner of Clarkdale Ariz.; and brother-in-law, Douglas (Susan) Kratz of Boone, Iowa.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, J.A. and Marie; sister, Janice Thomson Larson; brother-in-law, Roger Larson; and his parents-in-law, Leonard and Juliet Kratz.

Memorials may be given on behalf of Jim Thomson to Howard County Community Hospice, 235 8th Ave. W. Cresco, IA 52136; Cresco Public Library, 320 N. Elm, Cresco, IA 52136; Lime Springs Public Library, 110 W. Main St., Lime Springs, IA 52155; or an organization of one’s choice.

Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home of Cresco is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.hindtfuneralhomes.com