Lawrence Earl Thompson, age 60, died on March 2, at the Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix. He was born on Dec. 7, 1951, in Elkhorn Lake, Wisconsin, to Howard and Agnes (Schiller) Thompson. Lawrence was raised on a farm in Fairfield, Wisconsin. As an active member of his local 4 H Club, Lawrence raised two prize-winning pigs for the Wisconsin State Fair. In 1970, he graduated from Delavan High School and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. There he earned a B. S. degree in social work, and he graduated with a M.S.E. degree in community counseling in 1982. It was in graduate school where he first met his wife, Tina Thompson.
The couple moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1985 where Larry worked as a social worker for the Department of Welfare, protecting children from abuse and neglect. He also worked as a probation and parolee counselor for the youth of Hancock County. On Aug. 16, 1986, Larry and Tina were married at First Presbyterian Church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Before moving to St. Croix in 1992, LT and Tina enjoyed many sailing adventures from their homeport of Pass Christian, Mississippi. In 1992, the couple volunteered as cottage parents for the Queen Louise Home. After fourteen months of service, Larry continued his volunteer work on St. Croix by cleaning Hay Penny Beach once a month for the Marine Research program. Next he worked as an Americorps volunteer for the Men’s Coalition and would help serve meals at My Brother’s Table in Frederiksted when he was able.
Lawrence was preceded in death by his mother, Agnes Thompson; father, Howard Thompson; aunt, Jennie Thompson; mother-in-law, Leila Prahl; father-in-law, Melvin Prahl; and brother-in-law, the Rev. Larry Prahl. He is also survived by his wife, Tina (MelvePrahl) Thompson; godson, Jake Starin of Darien, Wisconsin; sister, Jennie Lou Rogers of Radcliffe, Iowa; brother, William Thompson of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; aunt, Ruth Huguet of Elroy, Wisconsin, brothers-in- law: Lanny Prahl of Lakewood, Colorado, and LexcyPrahl of Hardwick, Vermont; five nieces, three nephews, six grand nieces and four grand nephews. He also left behind two beloved dogs, Sarah and Chewy, along with one cool cat, whom he named Snagglepus.
A memorial service will take place at St. Patrick’s Church at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 9. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Larry Thompson’s name to the St. Croix Animal Shelter.
