BLOOMINGTON- Donald Richard Thompson, 91 of Bloomington passed away at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday (March 3, 2019) at McLean County Nursing Home in Normal. East Lawn Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and he will be buried at Park Hill Cemetery in a private service. A celebration of life gathering will be planned at a later date.
He was born in McLean Illinois on July 11, 1927 son of James E. Thompson and Rose (Pluvier) Thompson, the youngest of 9 children. He married Betty June Folks on March 24, 1951.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; grandsons, Chris (Karla) Hardesty and Bryce (Frances) Thompson and son-in-law, Fred Howard.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Anne Marie Howard; son Paul Thompson; granddaughter, Michelle Nachol Howard and all his brothers and sisters.
Don grew up in the Great Depression and new the true meaning of a dollar, it was believed his still had the first one he ever earned. He was a Navy Veteran. He was employed at Eureka Williams for over 35 years working in the press room until his retirement in the 1990's. He ran a shop out of his home working on anything and everything but his specialty was automotive brake work, earning him the nickname “Brake Man”. He was highly skilled at roasting hogs and had numerous hand built hog roasters on the property. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, gardener and entrepreneur of junk. He would help friends, neighbors and loved ones with anything they needed often just trading his skills for a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon. He made friends everywhere he went and will be dearly missed by many. Don was a dog lover so in lieu of flowers or cards please donate to any local dog shelter or rescue in his name.

Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) - March 10, 2019