Donald L. Thompson, 86, of Schaller, Dies at Wel-Life in Alta

Donald L. Thompson, a lifelong Schaller resident known for decades of civic service, died Feb. 1 at Wel-Life in Alta. He was 86. Thompson’s long tenure with the Schaller Fire Department and active role in local organizations mark the loss of a familiar face in a tight-knit Buena Vista County community.

Thompson was born Aug. 22, 1939, in Des Moines to Gilbert and Ordella (Fossil) Thompson. The family moved to Schaller in 1942, where he attended school and “built lifelong roots.” In high school he “had a deep love for baseball and football, lettering four years in baseball and three years in football during high school,” a note in his obituary said. That athletic background carried into community coaching; he helped lead a Little League team to a 4th-grade tournament championship, an accomplishment the obituary says he never forgot.

Public service defined Thompson’s adult life. He was a dedicated member of the Schaller Fire Department for nearly 50 years and served 15 years as chief. He also served as a member and former president of the Schaller Chamber of Commerce and, with his late wife Deb, “served as LYC counselors for 10 years.” Those roles positioned him at the center of civic life in Schaller, where volunteerism underpins fire protection, youth sports and local business networks.

Family life was central to Thompson’s identity. The obituary emphasizes that “Family meant everything to Don. The bond he shared with his grandson Colton was truly special and beyond words.” It adds, “When Colton went to college, Don made weekly trips to Sioux City to take him out to eat, cherishing every moment together.” The family remembered that “Don will be deeply missed by all who knew him and loved him.”

Survivors named in the obituary include his son Kevin Thompson and Kevin’s wife Tanya of Galva; grandson Colton Thompson of Schaller; sister Norma Jean (David) Thompson of Naperville, Ill.; sisters-in-law Pam Jensen of Battle Creek and Nancy Kasuboski of Spencer; plus cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his wife Deb; daughter Catherine Thompson; granddaughter Hannah Thompson; brother Chuck Thompson; sister-in-law Leona Thompson; brother-in-law Dallas Jensen; and his parents-in-law Edgar and Marjorie Quirk, as well as his parents.

Services were handled by Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home of Schaller. Visitation took place Feb. 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home, and the funeral service was held Feb. 5 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Schaller; burial followed in Schaller Cemetery.

Thompson’s passing is a reminder of how much small towns rely on long-serving volunteers. His decades of leadership in emergency response, youth programs and business life helped sustain Schaller’s civic infrastructure; his absence will be felt in the schedules of the fire department, the circle of Little League coaches and the social fabric of town gatherings.