IDA MAY THOMPSON

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IDA MAY THOMPSON February 23, 1931 - January 22, 2013 Ida May Thompson (nee Neuman) passed away on January 22, 2013 at the age of 81. She was predeceased by the love of her life John (Jack) Thompson whom she was married for 34 years as well as her parents Richard and Katherine Neuman, her sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Walter Mann, sister-in-law Phyllis Neuman, brother-in-law Lee Chase and nephew David Mann. Ida is survived by her brother Sam, sister Charlotte (Pete), sister Dolly, son Richard, stepdaughter Patricia, stepson Ross (Dougi), grandchildren Patrick, Ainsley, Dean, Deborah (Flemming), Keri, Jeffery, Jennifer and numerous beautiful great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. Ida was born in Morden, MB and despite being nicknamed Charley by her father she was not overly fond of farm life so she soon set out for the big city. Ida went to secretarial school in Winnipeg and worked there but travelling and adventure were in her nature from the beginning so she headed west and spent a few years living and working with a couple of her friends in Vancouver. After returning to Manitoba in 1959 she worked in a secretarial position for various firms until she ended up with the Parks Branch for the Province of Manitoba. It was there that she met her future husband Jack, golf course designer extraordinaire. After marrying in 1978 they moved to Regina, SK where Jack continued on with his work in landscape and golf course design for the City of Regina, and Ida with her administrative assistant work for the RBC. After their respective retirements they started their annual trip to Yuma, AZ as snowbirds where Jack could continue on with his own private golf course consulting work and Ida could carry on with her own task of collecting stuffed creatures and other knic-knacks. Because of Jack's declining health they could no longer travel to the U.S. so they sought out the warmest place they could find in Canada. In 2002 they moved to Summerland in the Okanagan Valley of BC. There they lived enjoying the pleasure of each other and of never having to shovel snow again until Jack's passing in 2009. His loss left a void in Ida's life that could never be filled. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place and no service will be held. Throughout her life Ida enjoyed her favorite activities of sewing, puzzles, traveling, collecting pictures of her family, and of course fine food and drink. Thanks go out to the Penticton Regional Hospital who helped make the last days of her life as comfortable as possible, to her family and friends who helped and supported her through good times and bad, and a special thanks to her wonderful friend, Marg Peschau who helped her so much in the tough times after Jack's passing. Please send donations to Ida's favourite charities, The B.C.S.P.C.A., the Canadian Lung Foundation, the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation or to the charity of your choice in lieu of cards or flowers. Miss Me But Let Me Go When I come to the end of the road, and the sun has set for me, I want no rites in a gloom filled room; Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little but not too long, And not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared, Miss mebut let me go. For this is a journey we all must take And each must go alone It is all a part of the Master's plan A step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick at heart, Go to the friends we know. And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds, Miss mebut let me go.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 26, 2013