Donald Thompson

Donald Leroy Thompson, 80, passed away on October 15, 2020 in Knox County. He was born on January 7, 1940 in Knox County to parents Alfred and Marie (Dotson) Thompson and resided on the Thompson family farm in Bruceville with his twin sisters Marilyn and Carolyn, sister Beverly Sue and brothers Bill, Jack and Ron.Don graduated from Bruceville High School in 1958. He was active in 4-H and at age 13 won the junior division tractor driving competition at the Knox Co fair FFA and played high school basketball on the varsity team and playing the position of forward in '56, '57, and '58. He made his lifelong friends there.He married Gaye Lynn Acker in 1959 and had 2 daughters, Kyla Thompson-Wakefield (Mark) who resides in Indianapolis, and Deena Thompson-Willis (Doug) who resides in Pasadena, CA. His grand-daughter Jillian Willis resides in Norman, OK.Preceding him in death at birth were his 2 sons Raymond and John Donald, as well as his parents and his sisters Carolyn and Beverly Sue. He also leaves behind sister, Marilyn Fields of Indianapolis; brothers, William (Bill) Thompson and his wife Marjorie of Columbia, TN, Jack D. Thompson and his wife Jacqueline of Indian Rocks Beach, FL, Ron Thompson and his wife Susan of Bruceville, IN, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins who reside in Knox county but also are scattered throughout the U.S.In 1981 Don married Mary Alice Purcell Bicknell. His step daughters are Julie Bicknell Rolley (Barry) and Rae Jean Bicknell, 3 step grand-daughters L'Erin Twitty, Terrin Caldwell and Jessica Dennis.Don had been a member of the Bruceville Rod and Gun Club, The Harmony Society, Bicknell Elks and Bruceville Alumni Association.He started his career early on as a farmer on his parent's dairy farm. He then had a farm of his own near Fritchton for 22 years raising cows, pigs, wheat, corn and beans, He also drove a Semi Truck and worked as a Metal Fabricator and Welder. This prepared him to run his Duro-Last roofing business up to his retirement and was named to the Duro-Last Century Club for outstanding achievement in quality workmanship. He most recently worked part-time at Gemtron in Vincennes.Don enjoyed many interests and hobbies such as square dancing with the Illiana twirlers, played industrial league basketball, go-Kart racing in the tri-state and boating with family and friends on area rivers and lakes. He was also a well-known well witch and could locate water wells with a peach branch or bailing wire but what Don loved most was his shop with the smell of grease, gas and kerosene. The shop is where you would find him with family, friends and neighbors building an engine, fabricating or machining a part or totally designing a new tool. He was never too busy and always generously gave his time to help his friends, neighbors or anyone that stopped by his shop. He was also an avid basketball and football fan. Every fall he enjoyed visiting with brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends at the Thompson family farm party on the ground he farmed when he was young.Thanks and tremendous appreciation go out to all of Don`s caregivers over the last 3 years at Gentle Care in Vincennes whom he considered family and for the staff at ANEW hospice in Indianapolis.Friends may visit with the Thompson family from 2-6 pm on Sunday, October 25, 2020 at Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home, Gardner-Brockman Chapel, 505 Main St., Vincennes. On line memories may be shared with Don's family at www.goodwinsieversfh.com. Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home is honored to assist the Thompson family with arrangements.Tribute Video