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Donald L. Thompson, 86, of Schaller died Feb. 1, 2026, at Wel-Life in Alta.
Funeral service will take place Thursday, Feb. 5, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Schaller. Burial will be in Schaller Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 5-7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller.
Donald L. Thompson was born Aug. 22, 1939, in Des Moines the son of Gilbert and Ordella (Fossil) Thompson.
In 1942, the family moved to Schaller where Don attended school and built lifelong roots. He had a deep love for baseball and football, lettering four years in baseball and three years in football during high school.
Don proudly enlisted in the United States Navy Sea Bees, serving his country while stationed in Okinawa until receiving an honorable discharge.
After returning home, Don co-founded Don & Don Trucking with his friend Don. He owned and operated the business for many years before selling his share, after which it became the original Pyle Trucking.
On July 22, 1972, Don married Deb Quirk. Together, they were blessed with two children, Kevin and Catherine.
In 1978, Don purchased his father’s interest in Thompson Hardware in Schaller and owned and operated the store for decades. His dedication to the hardware store and its customers was unmatched. Even after moving to Holstein Senior Living, Don continued working at the store, often having friends pick him up so he could help customers. His strong work ethic sometimes even led to missed Christmas gatherings, as he always made sure the job was done. He remained devoted to the business until his children finally insisted it was time for him to slow down.
After moving to Holstein, Don could often be found cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes, listening to country and gospel music, and fixing odds and ends for fellow residents. He loved fishing and camping with his grandson Colton.
Don and his wife, Deb, served as LYC counselors for 10 years. He was deeply involved in the Schaller community, serving as a member and former president of the Chamber of Commerce. Don was also a dedicated member of the Schaller Fire Department for nearly 50 years, including 15 years as chief. In addition, he coached Little League baseball and proudly led his team to win the 4th-grade tournament — an accomplishment he never forgot.
Family meant everything to Don. The bond he shared with his grandson Colton was truly special and beyond words. When Colton went to college, Don made weekly trips to Sioux City to take him out to eat, cherishing every moment together.
Don will be deeply missed by all who knew him and loved him.
Those left to cherish his memory include his children: Kevin (Tanya) Thompson 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; cousins; nieces; nephews; extended family and friends.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Ordella Thompson; wife Deb Thompson; 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.
