Reverend Paul Scheunemann of Tabor Lutheran Church will perform a grave side service at the Mountain Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 8, 2001, with interment of ashes following in the family plot.
Gordon, also known to his Mountain friends as "Sam," was born October 20, 1912 to Theodore "Sam" and Mary Frost Thompson in Armstrong Township, WI. He was raised in Mountain (formerly known as Armstrong Township) where he graduated from high school in 1930. In 1938, after working on the family farm and various other jobs, he attended Menomonee Falls College, later transferring to Stout Institute in River Falls, WI. He worked for an aeronautical firm in Chicago before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1942. Upon his honorable discharge from the service in 1944, Gordon obtained his private pilot's license before beginning his 35-year career with the Federal Aviation Administration in Cincinnati, OH, where he met and wed his wife, Jo, a registered nurse. In 1953, Gordon was transferred to Minneapolis, MN, where he and his family lived for one year before making their home in Bloomington, MN until his retirement in 1977. Gordon took pride in being one of the few people who truly retired from the FAA. After retiring, Gordon and Jo moved to Spicer, MN before moving to Casper in 1988.
Gordon, true to his Wisconsin heritage, loved the outdoors and enjoyed both participating in and watching sports. His favorite sport started in his school days with his playing baseball with the Mountain team and on to semi-pro ball. When his playing days were over, his love of the sport continued for he was a true-blue New York Yankee fan, even though he lived most of his adult life in Minnesota. The same held true for football -- he was a dyed-in-the-wool Packers fan despite being a season ticket holder for the Minnesota Vikings. Add to the list the game of golf for both he and his wife thoroughly enjoyed many a round of golf with friends.
His love of the outdoors also included gardening. An avid gardener, Gordon was honored to be a Master Gardener in Casper and will be remembered by family and friends for his "barefoot" lawns and lovely flower (especially gladiolus) and vegetable and fruit gardens, Gordon proudly became a Mason while in Spicer, MN before transferring to the Pathfinder Masonic Lodge of Casper. He and his wife were also active members of N.A.R.F.E.
A loving husband and father, he will be greatly missed by his wife Jo. H. Thompson of Casper; three daughters Jane Wilson of Overland Park, KS, Julie Isaacs of Casper and of Steamboat Springs, CO, and Joni Neal of Casper. He is also survived by one grandson, Josh Klofstad of Lawrence, KS, and two granddaughters, Kaylee and Kirstin Neal of Casper.