Kingsley, Iowa – Iola Thompson, 96, of Kingsley, Iowa passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at her home. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at the Kingsley United Methodist Church. Rev. Donovan and Rev. Cynthia Morrison will officiate. Burial will follow at the Kingsley Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at the Johnson – Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley. The family will be present from 6-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral service on Wednesday.

Iola was born on October 16, 1919 in Shullsburgh, Wisconsin to John Henry and Edith (LeVitte) Sampson. She was the youngest of eight children. Iola was raised in the Le Mars, Iowa area. She attended country school south of Le Mars. She later attended Le Mars High School for one year and then graduated from Union Consolidated High Schoolin 1937.

She met Stanley Thompson in high school and they were joined in marriage on March 5, 1941 in Sioux City, Iowa. They lived on the Thompson family farm in Union Township, Plymouth County. Stanley and Iola attended, and were active members of, Union Township Presbyterian Church.

In 1983, after 47 years of farming, Stanley and Iola moved to Kingsley where they joined the Kingsley United Methodist church.

Iola was a homemaker and helped Stanley on the farm. She especially loved watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sports and music. She loved being with her family. Iola played cards with her friends and had coffee with her neighbors. Stanley and Iola enjoy traveling, visiting relatives and especially enjoyed their trip to Hawaii.

Survivors include two sons, Tommy and his wife Mary of Le Mars, IA and Barry and his wife Janice of Kingsley, IA; seven Grandchildren, Kelly Ryan of Waukee, IA, Dallas (Megan) Thompson of Kingsley, IA, Nick (Kristen) Thompson of Davenport, IA, Chad (Jessica) Thompson of Kingsley, IA, Jennifer Thompson (Jon Anderson) of Vermillion, SD, Ryan VanderMolen of Sioux City, IA and Nathan (Brittni) VanderMolen of Anthon, IA; eleven Great-Grandchildren, Will Ryan, Ruby Thompson, Finn Thompson, Thomas Thompson, Addison Thompson, Alexandra Thompson, Abigail Thompson, Jameson Shaheen, Jaelyn Anderson , Brody VanderMolen and Allison VanderMolen; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley; daughter, Susan Smid; son-in-law, Steve Smid; three brothers, Lu Vois, Lester, and Harold Sampson; 4 sisters, Delores Heeren, Irene Fischer, Maxine Farmer and Janette Fulton.

Iola will be lovingly remembered and missed by her family and friends.