Lee Francis Thompson

Lee was born in Denison, Iowa, on September 26, 1952, the second child of Francis and Doris (Klaus) Thompson. Raised in Ute, Iowa, he gained his love of storytelling while working in the family business, the Ute Lockers. He graduated from Charter Oak-Ute Community High School in 1970 before going on to get his B.A. in Music Education at the University of Northern Iowa in 1976. Lee married Carol Nosbisch on June 14, 1975, and they made their home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Lee started his career with IBM in Waterloo, Iowa, in December 1977. IBM transferred the family to Raleigh, NC, in May 1981. They made their home in Cary, NC. Lee retired from IBM in May 2016, after 38 years.

Lee always had a love of water and air, which he indulged in by earning a pilot’s license in 1979 and spending time sailing, boating and swimming whenever possible. In 1989, the family discovered Bald Head Island, a North Carolina barrier island. BHI truly became one of his favorite places to be, and the family built a vacation home, The Other Place, on BHI in 1998. An annual event was “Grandma & Grandpa Camp” with their grandchildren on the island each summer. Lee was well known for his wonderful cooking abilities, which was one of the ways he showed his love to his family and friends. Over the years, he also enjoyed woodworking and made many treasured pieces. Lee held a lifetime love of music, and one would often find him playing the piano. While at UNI, Lee became involved with the UNI Varsity Men’s Glee Club. On December 4, 2010, he was the first to be awarded as a “Distinguished Alumnus” of the UNI Varsity Men’s Glee Club. In May 2015, the “Lee Thompson Pillars of the Glee Club Award”, an award for members who show outstanding dedication to the Glee Club, was created in his name.

Survived by: his wife, Carol Thompson of Cary, NC; son, Adam (Joanna) Thompson and grandchildren, Lindsay and Cooper Thompson, of Mooresville, NC; daughter, Erin Thompson of Cary, NC; his mother, Doris Thompson of Omaha, NE; sister, Carolyn (Tom) Harbaugh of Monroeville, PA; brothers, Myron Thompson, of Omaha, NE and Gary Thompson, of Omaha, NE; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Proceeded in death by: his father, Francis Thompson.

The family is waiting to plan a Celebration of Life after the pandemic has passed.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Lee’s memory can be made to the University of Northern Iowa Varsity Men's Glee Club/Les Hale Endowed Fund at https://uni-foundation.org. Click on "Give Now!" and indicate that it is for the Lee Thompson Memorial Fund in the Program # and/or Description field. Checks should be made payable to the UNI Foundation and sent to UNI Foundation, 121 Commons, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0239. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Breitbach at the Foundation (319) 273-7727 or cell (319) 360-2436.