Reed Thompson, 44, and Bryson Thompson, 6, of Crystal Lake passed away at their
home on November 11, 2021.
Memorial services for Reed and Bryson Thompson will be held at 11:00 AM on
Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the Crystal Lake United Methodist Church, 215
Summit Avenue in Crystal Lake with Pastor Les Green officiating. Burial will be
at Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal Lake.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at
Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West in Britt.
Reed Roger Thompson was born June 2, 1977, to Jerry and Judy (Kumsher) Thompson
in Forest City, Iowa. He was raised and educated in Crystal Lake, where he
graduated from Woden-Crystal Lake High School in 1995. During his high school
years, Reed played football and basketball.
Following high school, Reed began his working career, which led him to work a
variety of jobs over the years. He worked for the City of Crystal Lake; was a
welder, working for John Deere, Winnebago, Iowa Mold Tooling and Snap-On; drove
truck for Monson's, helping during harvest; and was a talented painter, working
at CDI and Moore's Kustoms.
Reed had a passion for anything with a motor. He loved riding his Harley,
racing motocross and snowmobiling during the winter. He enjoyed lifting weights
and arm wrestling and shared his talents doing auto body work and painting
vehicles.
Reed loved spending time with his family, they enjoyed camping, had many
memorable trips to Valley Fair and South Dakota over the years, along with a
trip to Sturgis in 1994.
More than anything, Reed was the proud and loving father of Bryson. The two of
them were nearly inseparable, whether it was them enjoying some of Reed's famous
burgers (Bryson said, "They're the best!"), playing outside or going fishing.
Reed was growing in his belief and trust in God. He and Bryson enjoyed walking
across the street and attending Sunday services at United Methodist Church.
Reed had a tremendous sense of humor and will be lovingly remembered for his
laughter and for always being happy.
Bryson Roger Thompson was born June 9, 2015, to Reed Thompson and Michelle
Swearingen in Mason City, Iowa.
Bryson was raised by his father, Reed, and grandparents, Judy and Jerry Thompson
in Crystal Lake, along with his aunts and uncles, Shelise and Jeff Hall and
Holly and Nic Moore.
Bryson attended school in Forest City, where he was beloved by his classmates
and teachers. He is described as being a blessing and as ALWAYS having a smile
on his face.
Bryson loved spending time with his family, whether it was picking flowers and
putting up holiday decorations with grandma, playing with paper airplanes and
going fishing with grandpa, spending time with his aunts and uncles while
playing with fuzzies on the farm or tossing rocks into the lake off of their
boat dock, going to eat at Subway, or having his favorite hamburgers prepared by
his dad.
Bryson loved playing with his dolphin bubble machine and remote controlled
helicopter, looking at the lava lamp, listening to the radio and watching Paw
Patrol and Pepa Pig. He loved picking yellow and purple flowers and dandelions,
and collecting seashells given to him by his special neighbor friend Rita.
Sometimes he just liked to sit in his Iowa State lawn chair with his favorite
tiger blanket, waiting to greet neighbors and his cousins when they returned
from school. Other times he loved playing in the sandbox or in the freshly
fallen leaves.
Bryson will always be remembered for his loving smile, his curiosity at how
things worked, and for the sense of humor he got from his dad. He was known to
hide under the blankets with his Halloween mask on, waiting for Reed to come and
wake him up.
Reed is survived by his parents, Judy and Jerry Thompson of Crystal Lake,
sisters Shelise and Jeff Hall of Forest City and Holly and Nic Moore of Crystal
Lake; nephews Deegan and Easton; along with numerous other extended family
members and friends.
Bryson is survived by his grandparents, Judy and Jerry Thompson of Crystal Lake;
aunts and uncles Shelise and Jeff Hall of Forest City and Holly and Nic Moore of
Crystal Lake; cousins (more like brothers) Deegan and Easton; divine guardian
Dawn Schlichting; his birth mother Michelle Swearingen and extended members of
the Swearingen family; friends and classmates.
Reed was preceded in death by his son, Bryson; and his grandparents, Agnes and
Michael Kumsher and Joyce Thompson/Reimer and Robert Thompson.
Bryson was preceded in death by his father, Reed and grandmother Cheryl
Swearingen.
In lieu of flowers and customary remembrances, Reed's family have established a
memorial fund at MBT Bank and through Venmo (the account can be found under the
username "@shelisehall").