Russell Alvin THOMPSON

6 JAN 1925 - 5 DEC 2015

• BIRTH: 6 JAN 1925, Tyner, Marshall, IN
• DEATH: 5 DEC 2015, South Bend, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 18 SEP 1948, St. Paul Lutheran Church, South Bend, IN

INDEX

[N33964] Russell Alvin Thompson
Jan. 6, 1925 - Dec. 5, 2015

SOUTH BEND - Russell Alvin Thompson, age 90, died peacefully on Saturday, December 5, surrounded by his family. Russ was born in Tyner, Indiana, on January 6, 1925 to George Robert and Lulu Louise Lisette (née Hans) Thompson. On September 18, 1948, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in South Bend, Russ married Carol Margaret Loutzenheiser, who survives, along with a daughter, Polly Thompson Wolf (James) of Culver, Indiana. Also mourning Russ' passing are his surviving sisters, Jean Ullery of Paso Robles, California, and Barbara Thielke of South Bend, five grandchildren, Heather Fite, Chad Fite (Arpeni), Nathan Fite, Amanda Vaughan and Braydon Thompson (Amber), 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Preceding Russ were his parents, siblings, Richard, Gerry, and Clifford, and a son, Jeffery. After graduation from Rochester High School, Russ enlisted in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 124th Cavalry Regiment and served in the China-Burma-India Theater as a dog handler in the MARS Task Force. Cut off completely from friendly forces, the force marched more than 200 miles through the Burmese jungle and mountains to clear northern Burma of Japanese forces and to open the Burma Road. Contacting the enemy on January 19, 1945, the force fought continuously for 17 days before achieving its objectives. Russ was proud of his service and his comrades and spoke of them often. Russ was a lifelong and faithful Lutheran and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, South Bend. A proud and accomplished carpenter and a member of Carpenter's Local Union 413, Russ retired in 1990. Russ was a member of the Lydick Lions Club, an Indian Guide Leader, and a former trustee and deacon of Faith Lutheran Church in South Bend. Russ lived a full and rewarding life and faced both the joys and sadness of life and loss with grace and dignity. He loved his God, his wife and family, his church, his country, dogs of all types, gardening, travel, fishing, hunting, reading, and keeping abreast of current events. To honor Russ' memory as his family will, play with a kid, read the Bible, salute the flag, scratch a dog behind its ears, plant a tomato vine, go on a cruise, take a walk in the woods, pick up a book, or just enjoy all the small blessings that come your way every day. Family and friends will gather to celebrate Russ' life from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Friday, December 11, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 51490 Laurel Road, South Bend. Funeral services will follow at the church with graveside services to follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, South Bend. Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William St. is assisting the family with arrangements. Contributions in memory of Russ may be offered to Resurrection Lutheran Academy, 6840 Nimtz Parkway, South Bend, IN 46628. Family and Friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.