THOMPSON, Robert C., age 85

Died: Wednesday, January 17th, 2024

A private family service will be held.

The family would prefer memorials be given in memory of Bob to the Taylor Rod and Gun Club (P.O. Box 3, Taylor, WI 54659) or the charity/organization of your choosing

Robert "Bob" Thompson, age 85, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at River Pines Care Center in Altoona, Wisconsin.

Bob was born on April 5, 1938 to the late Raymond and Norma (Nordhus) Thompson on a small farm in Trump Coulee between Blair and Taylor, Wisconsin. He grew up and worked on that farm until graduating from Taylor High School with the class of 1956. On October 11, 1958, Robert married Susann Hulett of Taylor. In 1959 they moved to Eau Claire where he began working for Dept. of Transportation for the summer. He worked as a route driver for Holsom Bakery for 7 years, shipping for Farmhouse Foods (f/k/a Roberts) for 20 years and lastly back at the Dept. of Transportation installing/maintaining street traffic and overhead lighting until his retirement in 2004.

Bob fondly recalled the days spent on the home farm with his favorite beagle "Bootsy" or plinking sparrows off the barn roof for the barn cats. He often recalled various highlights of playing basketball and baseball at Taylor High School. His motivating interests throughout his life was his love of the outdoors and sports. He was a very dedicated sports fan of Wisconsin based teams of the Brewers, Bucks, Packers, and Badgers. He enjoyed and attended hundreds of high school basketball games at Memorial, North, Fall Creek and Blair-Taylor over the years. He enjoyed hunting throughout his life from fox hunting in the 60's-70's and partridge/pheasant hunting with his favorite Brittney "Queeny", to every gun deer season and then picking up archery deer hunting in the late 70's. He couldn't wait for each late fall trapping season and utilizing his vacation time with his brother-in-law, Clark "Hank" Hulett, in pursuit of "critters". His retirement years for trapping converted to nuisance trapping of gophers and moles.

He enjoyed gardening and was forever cutting down trees and planting new ones or digging up shrubs to replace with new ones or moving flowers from one location to another. He had not owned a dog for a number of years, but always had a soft spot for all dogs and an uncanny ability to make friends with any that he had contact with…a true "dog whisperer".  He could hardly wait for the next weekly trip to Gilmanton and/or Taylor with his son, Rick, and grand dog, Berkelei, for breakfast and then some hunting, fishing, outdoor maintenance, tree/brush projects or whatever the day had in store.

He had an un-equivalent devotion to being a "good worker, good person, and good family man" as a spouse of 65 years, as a father and as a grandfather. He was a loyal follower of his children and grandchildren in sports in good and bad weather and sports that he liked and sports that he didn't understand as well. He lived his life trying to follow the golden rule.

This year Bob celebrated his 85th birthday and 65th Wedding Anniversary. Not everyone is lucky enough to get those opportunities. He was able to live life actively and independently except for the past 4 weeks. Before giving up the struggle, Bob reminded us of what integrity looks like. We all marvel at the humility he exhibited and the patience he displayed as we all mourned the loss of his independence. Rest in peace dad, the family team will play on and remember that's what you would expect us to do.

Bob is survived by his wife, Susann; daughter, Bobbi (Bob) Watson; son, Rick (Linda) Thompson both of Eau Claire; grandchildren, Kaite Watson of Denver, CO, Erin (Matt) Machnik of Menomonie, WI and Kevin (Felicia) Watson of Miami, FL, Brooke and Bailey Thompson of Eau Claire; sister, Lorraine Toraason; brother-in-law, Clark (Judy) Hulett; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara Ann; and sister, Helen Schweiger.