Deanna Constance Thompson, 73, of St. Jacob, Ill., born July 23, 1938, in St. Louis, Mo., died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at her home surrounded by her family.

While in high school, Deanna was an accomplished violinist and served as the concert mistress of the Arlington State College (now University of Texas at Arlington) Orchestra.


Deanna was a certified and licensed hot air balloon pilot and served several years as president of the Ballooning Society of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colo. She once won 2nd place at the famous Albuquerque International Balloon Festival.


She was a master gardener and had a special touch with flowers and plants of every kind and was known to have the most beautiful backyard in the troy/St. Jacob area.

She was a gifted seamstress, crocheter, and cross-stitcher; sewing her way into the hearts of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren producing many personal keepsakes for each.

She loved music her whole life and participated in the Four Winds Hand Bell Choir in Colorado Springs and was active in the St. Jerome Choir in Troy.

For years she carefully decorated her home with the most exquisite Christmas decorations and everyone enjoyed her beautiful homemaker's touch.

She participated in the St. Jerome Prayer Shawl Ministry and faithfully attended Bible Study Fellowship International every Tuesday night accompanied by her daughter and granddaughters.

"Grandma Dee" was known as the world's expert domino player, and made everyone play according to her rules! She had worked as a purchasing and production control manager for Powerline in Atlanta, Ga. She was a member of St. Jerome Catholic Church. She had lived in the St. Jacob, Ill., area for eight years, coming from Atlanta, Ga., and Colorado Springs, Colo.

She was preceded in death by her dad, Irwin James Kline; her son-in-law, Thomas Charles Ekle; and her infant son, Robert Eric Stanley.

Surviving are her husband, Geoffrey Lawrence Thompson whom she married on Sept. 4, 1971, in Littleton, Colo.; her mother, Cornelia Catherine, nee Morgan, "Granny Girl" Kline of Hurst, Texas; son, James Mitchell (Sue) Stanley of Fort Worth, Texas; daughters, K. Jeanne Ekle of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Leslie S. (Mitch) Miller of St. Jacob, Ill.; a brother, John (Kathy) Kline of Arlington, Texas; a sister, Gerry Lynn (Rocky) Rothman of Hurst, Texas; grandchildren, Kris Ekle, Ryan (Schona) Ekle, Lara Ekle, Dillon Ekle, Blake Stanley, Dustin Stanley, William Christopher (Lauren) Miller, Melissa (Jason) Miller Tedesco, Margaret Miller (Alex) Brorby; and great-grandchildren, Keagen, Gabriel, Madison, Abigail, Emma, Leora and Xzander.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at Laughlin-Richeson Funeral Home, Troy, Ill.

A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at St. Jerome Catholic Church, with Father Pat Jakel officiating. Interment will take place at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.

LAUGHLIN-RICHESON
FUNERAL HOME,
Troy, Ill.