Mark J. Thompson, 81, longtime resident of Iowa City, passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at Crestview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Branch, Iowa.

The family will greet friends and family beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 27, 2017 at Lensing Funeral Home with a memorial service immediately following at 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch at the funeral home. Inurnment of cremains will be at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, Iowa. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association.
Mark was born July 20, 1936 in Lake Mills, Iowa, the son of Jacob and Violet (Severson) Thompson. He came to Iowa City as a young man and graduated from Iowa City High School. He met his future wife Bette (Hess) Thompson on a blind date in 1957 and they were married on August 16, 1958. Mark was a member of the National Guard from 1958-1964 and served as a medical assistant. He received a Best Soldier Award in 1960 and completed his service as a Staff Sargent.
Mark went on to join the First National Bank in 1958 and retired in 1996. During this time, he was very active in the Iowa City community. He served on the Board of Directors for the Visiting Nurses Association, held offices with the Johnson County Bankers Association, served on the board of the Mid-Eastern Council on Alcoholism as well as the United Nations Association, Junior Achievement, and the Civil Service Commission.
Mark enjoyed fishing, hunting, video poker, and traveling. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, the Iowa Wildlife Association, the Johnson County Izaak Walton League, and Waterfowlers United. He and his wife took multiple trips to various locations, but his favorite was Lake Tahoe, California, where they returned for many summers.
Mark is survived by his children, Sandy Hoefer (Nick) of Iowa City and Steve Thompson (Linda) of Signal Hill, California; grandchildren Zachary Thompson, Travis Homewood (Estrella), Mark Homewood, Alexa Homewood-Weldon (Patrick), Rebecca Williams (Brad), and Elizabeth Hoefer (Brian Habersberger); and great-grandchildren Madeline, Victoria, and Isaac.
He was predeceased by his wife Bette, his brothers Roger, Gary, Tom, and parents Jacob and Violet.
The family would like to express their deep gratitude to the staff at Crestview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the care and support they provided to both Mark and Bette.

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