Thorwald Stuart Thompson

Stuart was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and his childhood is mostly unknown. I do know that Stuart served in the military in World War II. In 1946 as I was playing with a four piece band for local dances in central Minnesota. The evening I met Stuart the band was at a band hall in the town of Wahkon on Mille Lacs Lake. Stuart Thompson came into the dance hall carrying his tenor saxophone and asked if he could sit in with the band. Stuart had attended the Macphail School of Music in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was an excellent and gifted musician. The band very much enjoyed his performance and he was asked to come back and play again, which he did. Stuart made a point to sit in with the band and was well liked. At a later time I introduced Stuart to my sister Esther, and that relationship grew to marriage, Stuart became my brother in law. Stuart loved making music and played many different instruments. Music was a common bond and was typically the entertainment during family visits. Stuart was in the Wahkon area working on a poultry farm, he had an interest for raising and care of chickens. Stuart had attended some secondary education studying poultry using his GI benefits after World War II. Stuart was involved with poultry farms at several different times in his life. Stuart enjoyed a mobile lifestyle, he and my sister Esther lived in many different locations, especially in their earlier years. They were in Minnesota and California and this was typically driven by seasons, to avoid the long Minnesota winters. Stuart was always good at finding work in a new location and quickly landed a job when a move was made. IN 1949 we visited Stuart and Esther at their home in the San Fernando Valley; they were living on a poultry ranch. Stuart liked change and would become restless and move on after some time, he also enjoyed the challenge of different jobs. Stuart and Esther worked as fire rangers ojn the Grand Canyon North Rim, Lion Mountain, for some time, in a very remote location that requires four wheel drive to gain access. Stuart was always friendly with a happy smile in spite of a challenge with lip cancer that ended his playing of sax and harmonica. Stuart transitioned to piano; this gave him joy for the rest of his life. Stuart and Esther Thompson were dedicated Christian people; we look forward to seeing them in our Lord's Heaven some day. Graveside Services will be held on Friday, August 23, 2013 at 11:45am at Riverside National Cemetery with Pastor Joel A. Vincent officiating the services.