Douglas Thompson

Douglas Thompson, 68, of Wood River passed away Friday, June 3, 2016, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral Services will be Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 10:00 AM at the Wood River United Methodist Church with Pastor Phillip Sloat officiating. Burial will be at the Cameron Cemetery near Wood River.

Visitation will be from 4 until 7 PM on Wednesday at Apfel Funeral Home in Wood River. Apfel Funeral Home is serving the family.

Doug was born January 4, 1948, at Grand Island. He grew up attending District 16 Rural Elementary School and Wood River Rural Junior/Senior High School, where he graduated in 1966.

Doug married Dianne Luth of Alda on June 29, 1968. He received a Bachelor of Arts in education from Kearney State College in 1970. He taught industrial arts and drafting, as well as auto mechanics, at Grand Island Northwest High School until 1975. He then farmed full-time after leaving teaching until his retirement in 2014.

Doug excelled in the farming industry while concurrently serving on the Wood River School Board from 1985 to 1992. During this eight-year term, he received and Outstanding Commitment Award for Enhancing School Board Effectiveness from the Nebraska Association of School Boards.

His commitment to success in agriculture was appreciated and recognized. He was the first recipient of the National Take Pride in America Conservation Farm Award in 1991. He worked diligently to advocate the importance of water conservation on numerous projects, one of the most prominent of the time being Prairie Bend.

Doug enjoyed team roping with his son in the 1980s, as well as restoring antique horse carriages and buggies. More recently, he enjoyed golfing, trips to Arizona, and spending time with his family. He was especially proud of his granddaughter, Adi.

Survivors include his wife, Dianne of Wood River; mother, Florence Windfield and husband Bud Windfield of Grand Island; brother, Jim Thompson of Omaha; son and daughter-in-law, Matt and Megan Thompson and granddaughter, Adilyn Thompson all of Waterloo, Nebraska; daughter and son-in-law, Jenny and Dan Koehler of Lincoln; numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Thompson and brother, Craig Thompson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Wood River Volunteer Fire Department of First United Methodist Church of Wood River.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com

January 4, 1948

Grand Island, NE

June 3, 2016

Grand Island, NE