Kyle Fuhrman Thompson

Kyle Fuhrman Thompson

Kyle Fuhrman Thompson, 83, of Eldora, Iowa, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015 at Valley View Specialty Care in Eldora, Iowa while under the care of Care Initiatives Hospice. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct.15, 2015 at the Eldora United Methodist Church with Rev. Vicki Reece officiating. Burial followed at the Eldora City Cemetery. A visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora.

Kyle was born Aug. 15, 1932 to Homer and Blanche Thompson (Fuhrman) in Bronson, Kan. He was raised in rural Bronson on the family farm and rode his pony to the Limestone one room schoolhouse during his early years. Kyle graduated from Moran, Kan. Rural High School in 1950 and attended Central Christian College, Bartlesville, Okla., and Baker University, Baldwin City, Kan. where he met his wife, Marilyn Biester. They married in 1952 and moved to Bartlesville, Okla., where Kyle built by hand his first family home and started his career in the plastics industry, working in the research and development labs at Phillips Petroleum Company. In 1958 he moved to the Chicago area where he was district manager for the plastics sales division with Phillips Petroleum Company. Kyle's career as a plastics sales engineer brought him to Thompsonville, Conn.; Wayzata, Minn.; and Amherst, N.H. In 1976, Kyle returned to his rural roots and moved to Eldora, Iowa, to become the vice president and sales manager at Quality Products. In 1979, Kyle married his wife, Marcia and continued his career as a senior vice president for Mar-Kay Plastics. Kyle was a pioneer in the plastics blow-molding industry and was a board member of the Society of Plastics Engineers. He was a dedicated, loving family man and loved helping his children and grandchildren in any way he could. Kyle enjoyed his Gold Wing motorcycle rides, and traveling to foreign countries on trips with Marcia. He served his community on the city council, industrial development board and as president of the hospital board. Kyle was a board member of the Rotary Club, member of the United Methodist Church and the Pine Lake Country Club.

Kyle is survived by his wife of 36 years, his daughter Teresa (Dan) Merritt of Jenks, Okla., and Sheila (Tom) Kadolph of Aurora, Colo., and stepchildren: Debbie (Craig) Kissel, Surprise, Ariz., Bradley Pettigrew, Steamboat Rock, Marsha (Stuart) Pettigrew, Eldora, Angela Pettigrew, Yankton, S.D. Grandchildren: Joshua (Kendra) Merritt of Littleton, Colo., Travis (Kim) Merritt of Denton, Texas, Kayleen Merritt of Jenks, Okla., Jessica (Jesse) Wakeham and James Kadolph of Parker, Colo., Brent (Jen) Pettigrew of Center Point, Iowa, Amanda (Dustin) Arends of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Brandon Morton of Eldora, Iowa, Kristel Morton of Granger, Ind.; great-grandchildren, Varinia, Parker and Whitney Wakeham, Abigail Merritt, Jordon Irwin, Khloe Pettigrew and Ellea Kreb.

Kyle was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Blanche Thompson and stepson, Stuart Pettigrew.

Memorials may be directed to the Thompson family.