Dennis Thompson of Annetta passed away on August 24, 2024.
The brimming legacy of a life well lived is stitched into the remarkable story of Dennis V. Thompson. He was the first-born child of Martha (Sprugel) Thompson and Archie Thompson, arriving on a cold day in December of 1945 in Iowa Falls, Iowa.
Having grown up on an Iowa farm, he established a strong work ethic and moral compass for a lifetime of commitment to the world around him. A steadfast commitment to family, employment, civic contributions, generosity for those less fortunate, and the nurturing and attentiveness of his faith served as bedrock for all the rest.
He graduated from Lu Verne High School and was a life-long ambassador for the school and his beloved classmates. He graduated with a BA in Accounting from the University of Northern Iowa, and proudly enlisted and served his country in the US Army from 1967-1970. He was awarded a Bronze Star with Oakleaf Cluster for his service in Vietnam, where he acted as a finance specialist.
Following his CPA certification, he spent the first twenty years of his career in public accounting, both for a former Big Eight Accounting firm and as an Audit Partner in a CPA firm in Wichita Falls. In 1992 he changed career paths, becoming a Senior Litigation consultant with Courtroom Sciences, Inc. (CSI). He then established an independent consulting firm, Trial Lab LLC, which specialized in litigation strategies and communication, consulting and preparing corporate clients and trial teams for trial. That work took him to corporate boardrooms and courtrooms throughout the US, Europe and Japan.
Mr. Thompson completed mediation training at the Texas Wesleyan School of Law and the University of Texas, Arlington and was a credentialed family and civil mediator. He was a member of the American, Texas State, and Tarrant County Bar Associations.
Dennis was a frequent guest lecturer at Texas Wesleyan School of Law and helped coach mock trial, mediation, and arbitration teams to national and international championships. He was honored with the coveted Steve Chaney Friend of the Law School Award in 2011. In 2018, his legal and finance experience led him to accept a position with Tri County Electric Cooperative, where he continued as Facilities Director until his death.
His Parker County community work included 10 years of volunteer service with the Ride for Heroes bicycle ride as a board member and board chair, Aledo ISD student mentor, the Rotary Club of Weatherford, and the Aledo ISD Growth Committee. He was also his wife, Kathryn’s biggest fan and number one volunteer at every nonprofit she was involved with. His faith kept him grounded as a member of HighRidge Church.
He was proud of his family and enjoyed many activities and adventures with them growing up. He loved their visits, and adored his three grandchildren. Dennis and Kathryn recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary by renewing their wedding vows in a memorable ceremony in Wichita Falls.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, two brothers-in-law, and two nephews.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Kathryn; son, Matthew, of Abilene; daughter Jennie Leonard (Clint), Rathdrum, Idaho; stepson Justin Tubbs, Wichita Falls; grandchildren, Carson, Cadyn and Kinley Leonard of Rathdrum, Idaho; sisters, Allene (Cookie) Cranston, Johnston, Iowa, and Nancy Kastengren (Jim Larkin), Dublin, Ohio; niece, Carrie Stephens (Brenden), Urbandale, Iowa; nephew, Scott Kastengren (Olympia), Norris, Montana; three grandnieces, Rebecca and Gracie Stephens, Des Moines, Iowa, and Lindsay Stephens, Ames, Iowa; grandnephew Noah Kastengren, Phoenix, Arizona; and many other relatives and friends. And not the least of these is his little canine companion, Toby.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024 at HighRidge Church, 1000 Cinema Drive, Hudson Oaks, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Parker County or the charity of your choice.
The Community News
August 30, 2024
