On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, in the early evening, Elaine quietly entered her eternal Home with Jesus. (Mary) Elaine Stauffer Thompson, was born in 1932 and grew up in Holcombe, Wisconsin, with her parents, Louis and Lillian Stauffer.

Elaine moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin for one year after she graduated from high school. She then attended Emmaus Bible School in Chicago, Illinois. From there she went to Augusta, Georgia to attend nurses training. It was while she was in Augusta that she met her husband, Bob Thompson. He was stationed in Savannah, Georgia in the Air Force. They met through a mutual family friend. The nursing school did not allow for marriage while in attendance, so she and Bob secretly eloped on August 26, 1954. No one knew except a family friend in Augusta. They would enjoy married life on weekends together for her last year of nurses training. On June 26, 1955, they had a public wedding ceremony held in Holcombe, Wisconsin.

Bob and Elaine set up their homestead five miles south of Ojibwa, Wisconsin, where they raised their five children.

Elaine worked as a registered nurse at the Ladysmith Hospital and later at Marion Nursing Home. She also used her nursing skills for those who needed shots that could be administered at home.

She was also known as being a very energetic and determined worker. She did not just have one flower garden, she had many plus a large and productive vegetable garden.

She kept the pantry stocked and she proficiently butchered beef and deer for the freezer. She painted bulldozers and even was known to have spray painted a salesman caterpillar yellow.

She also did most of the milking, feeding, and cleaning of the barn for the 20+ cows during the farming years.

The yearly tradition of making maple syrup also landed in her area of expertise. In her sixties, Elaine joined her husband in the new endeavor of cranberry growing. She was seen many times out in the marsh picking weeds. She would empty 50-lb. bags of fertilizer into the hopper as Bob drove the tractor to fertilize the marsh. Oftentimes, she would empty 20-30 bags in one day. Most of the cranberry harvest helpers will remember her providing amazing meals and delicious bakery treats.

Most of all she will be remembered for her strong faith. Her firm belief in the gospel profoundly affected her life. She gladly acknowledged that Jesus was her Savior and devoted her life to pleasing Him.

She is survived by her children, Pamela K. (David) McLellan of Exeland, Thomas R. Thompson of Hayward, Paul A. (Lisa) Thompson of Hayward, Daniel R. Thompson of Minong, and Mark S. (Rita) Thompson of Hayward; her grandchildren, Marisha, Paul, Sarah, Jerald, Cody, Robert, Kelly Lynn, Jessica, Thomas, Isaiah, Sarah, Joshua and Danielle; many great-grandchildren; and her nephew, Roberto.

In addition to her parents, Elaine is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Duain Thompson; her granddaughters, Joy and Cheri; and her sisters, Madeline Escamilla and Evangeline Stauffer.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at Hayward Funeral Home, 15571 W County Highway B, where visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the hour of the service. Interment will be held at 3:00 P.M. in Windfall Lake Cemetery in Exeland, WI. Family and friends are welcome to join the family for lunch at the Hayward Veterans Center immediately following the service at the funeral home.

The family would like to express our gratitude to Water’s Edge and Harbor Living for treating her as a family member and providing wonderful and thoughtful care.

Last Update: Aug 09, 2024 8:03 am CDT