Susan Thompson

Susan Thompson

Cedar Rapids

Susan B. Thompson, 88, of the Cottage Grove Place community peacefully passed away on Monday, November 4, 2024. Susan was born to Leo and Elizabeth Bowdish on July 25, 1936, in Centerville, Iowa. She married Douglas Thompson on June 20, 1959, in Anamosa, Iowa. Susan and Doug moved to Cottage Grove in 2019 and shortly thereafter they were both diagnosed with dementia.

Prior to this diagnosis Susan led a full and active life, involved with numerous activities. She loved to walk, travel and cheer on her beloved Cyclones. One of her greatest joys was seeing all four of her grandchildren graduate from Iowa State. In support of Doug, she grew to be an Iowa Hawkeyes fan except for that one day that occurs yearly in September! She loved to read, sew, spend time with family and friends, she was forever volunteering and serving others.

Susan grew up with her two sisters on a farm in Southern Iowa and was involved in Girl Scouts and 4-H. She made many trips to the State Fair, even winning a few blue ribbons. She attended two years of college at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri, before transferring to Iowa State University where she was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority and earned her degree in Home Economics.

Her first job was a Home Economist at the Rural Electric Company of four Eastern Iowa counties. While living in Anamosa she was introduced to Doug by his mother. They were engaged and married within a year. They spent time in Columbus, Nebraska; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Killeen, Texas, during Doug’s time in the Army. After the Army, jobs took them to Sioux City, Iowa, before landing back in Cedar Rapids in 1968.

Susan taught elementary school in Iowa and Texas. She eventually spent more than 25 years as a teacher and director of St. Paul’s Preschool in Cedar Rapids. She impacted numerous lives and made many great friendships along the way. Outside of her work her activities included: PEO, United Methodist Women, Tuesday Study Club, Kappa Delta Alumni, Home Economics Group, Camp Fire, PTA, Reading Outreach, being an avid blood donor, volunteering at St. Paul’s UMC, the Art Center, Brucemore, Theatre Cedar Rapids as well as serving on countless committees. Her most loved activity was spending time with her children and grandchildren. They were her world and she was theirs. Every time they were together she referred to the time as a holiday. Her strong legacy will live on in all who loved her so much. Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Doug, daughter, Jill Rich (Jebb), son, Jeff Thompson (Laurel), four grandchildren, Tyler Rich (Jordan), Megan Crocker (Jason), AJ Rich (Emily) and Kaitlin Rich (Losiel), five great-grandchildren, Charlotte Rich, Reece Rich, Thompson Crocker, Jasper and Oakley Moore, sisters, Rosalee Heffron (Warren) and Julie Dickinson (Don). She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter, Pamela Thompson (1960-1962).

The family would like to thank Cottage Grove and St. Croix Hospice for the exceptional care and support given to Susan.

Funeral Service: 11:00 am Thursday, November 14 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Early Learning Center.