Mary Genevieve Thompson, 100, died November 2, 2008 at the Greene County Medical Center, Jefferson, Iowa.  Funeral services will be 10:30am Thursday, November 6 at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction, with interment at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Grand Junction.  Friends may call at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Grand Junction after 1:00pm Wednesday, where the family will be present from 6:30 – 8:30pm, and a Vigil for the Deceased will be held at 7:00pm. 

Mary Genevieve Harker Thompson, fifth child of Charles O. Harker and Elmina Brigid Williams Harker, was born on August 17, 1908 in Greene County, Iowa.

Genevieve was a student of the Sisters of Mercy at St. Mary’s Academy, Grand Junction, and graduated in 1926.  She enjoyed studying the classics, and was particularly fond of history and economics.  After graduation, she completed the Normal Training Program at Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, Iowa.  This qualified her to teach in rural schools.  However, due to her youthful appearance and short stature she was never employed as a teacher.  School boards were simply afraid that she might not be able to handle discipline of the larger students.

During her high school years, she translated the speeches of Caesar and Cicero from Latin to English.  This analytical ability served her well in her chosen employment at Peoples Trust and Savings Bank and as Postmaster of the Grand Junction, Iowa Post Office, from March 1, 1935 through June 30, 1973.  She was very attentive to detail and dedicated to the conscientious application of right principles in daily life.  She enjoyed her work and was appreciated for the careful way in which she carried it out.  She often delivered mail on Christmas Eve so that late-arriving gifts would be received and no one would be disappointed.  Likewise, she often unlocked the vault before dawn on the opening day of duck hunting season, so that early risers could buy their licenses before they set out for the day’s adventures.

On November 4, 1936, she was united in marriage to Morse Halsey “Doc” Thompson at the Catholic Rectory in Grand Junction.  To this union were born one daughter, Marie Elmina and 3 sons:  Philip Morse; Paul James and Charles Noah.

She was a lifelong member of St. Brigid Catholic Church and taught CCD classes there following her retirement from Civil Service.  She was an innovative thinker; with a whimsical sense of humor.  Genevieve was once reprimanded for frying eggs on the pot-bellied stove in the school as there was no hot lunch program in those years.  Her recycling efforts were legendary; nothing was so small or so insignificant that she couldn’t consider another possible use for it.  For example, watermelon rinds became pickles and large plastic bags were quickly converted to rain ponchos.  She once suggested that “nice end tables could be made from the extra lumber that was wasted in making regular length caskets for short people.”

Genevieve was ahead of her time in facing the reality of death as a natural part of the human life cycle.  Rather than avoid the subject, she confronted it in a positive manner.  Genevieve would bake some of her now famous cinnamon rolls, call a friend to “put on the coffee pot” and show up with the rolls to share over a cup of coffee.  She would explain that she was there to enjoy their time together, as she might not be able to bake rolls for the funeral lunch.  Although it raised some eyebrows years ago, those who are familiar with the current “hospice movement” will recognize the value of the approach.

Genevieve’s passing closes a significant chapter in Greene County history.  She was the only member of her family to be born on what was then known as the “Harker Ranch”, located in Hardin Township; now currently farmed by Paul Harker Mears.  Genevieve is the last survivor of her generation.  “Genevieve” as she was known throughout her long life, was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Morse, in 1987; her son, Charles, in 1970; and her eight brothers and sisters, Elmina Elizabeth Doran, Charles Carter Harker, Gertrude Ann Wade, Joseph Coates Harker, Simon Harker, James Harker, Camilla Agnes Mears and Benjamin Orton Harker.

Survivors include her daughter, Marie (Michael), Stoline Kalamazoo, Michigan and 2 sons, Philip (Sue) Thompson, Bondurant, IA and Paul Thompson, Dallas, Texas.  Also surviving are her grandchildren, Anne Stoline-Litwin; Amy Harrington; Carrie Olson; Rebecca McGargill; Rachel Thompson; Janelle Mathies; Elizabeth Mary “Beth” Kiefer; Benjamin Stoline and Charles Thompson; great-grandchildren, Monica Stoline; Elliott Litwin; Stanley Olson; Kristina Stoline; Sydney Olson; Madeline Litwin; Ava McGargill; Jennifer Stoline; Katherine Adams; Emma McGargill and Allison Mathies.  In addition, she leaves a sister-in-law, Byrdene Thompson; brother-in-law, O.J. Thompson; numerous nieces and nephews and a wealth of friends.