Leo F. Thompson, 83, died at his home in rural Fort Branch on January 14, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. He was surrounded by his family as he peacefully passed away.

Leo was born on May 23, 1920 to Leo M. and Faye (Gillespie) Thompson in Princeton, IN. He married his high school sweetheart, Esther Marie Reinhart on June 26, 1941. They were married for 62 years.

Leo is a veteran of World War II having served from 1941 to 1945. He served faithfully in the Pacific Theater on the island of Attu in the Aleutian chain. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 2714. For many years he honored his fellow veterans on Memorial Day by participating as a rifleman during taps and a 21 gun salute at the local cemeteries. This was very dear to his heart. He was also a member of the Knights of St. John in Haubstadt, IN. He had been a member of the St. Bernard Catholic Church in Snake Run since 1948. Leo retired from Whirlpool and farming in 1982. He loved bowling, camping, golfing, clabber and fishing with his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Eugene(Buddy); his daughter Carolyn Jost; and a son David.

Surviving is his wife Ester; two brothers Delbert of Christopher, IL, James of Mesa, AZ; a sister, Dorothea Higgins of Bloomington, IN; and three sons, Tom and his wife Mary Jane (Jost) of St. Wendel, IN Richard and his wife Celesta (Kuester) of Sullivan IN and Stephen of Fort Branch; twenty-three grandchildren; and eleven great gandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday January 16, 2004 from 2:00 till 8:00 P.M. at Stodghill Funeral Home located on Hwy 168 W. in Fort Branch IN. A prayer service will we conducted at 7:30 PM consisting of a memorial service and Rosary by Fr William Dearing and the Knights of St. John. Continued visitation will be at St. Bernards Church from 9:00 Am Saturday January 17, 2004 until Service time.

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. at St Bernard Catholic Church in Snake Run on Saturday January 17, 2004. Father William Dearing and Father Tony Ernst will be officiating. Burial will be in the Church Cemetery.