Terry Thompson

On the afternoon of November 13, 2015, Captain Terry Albert Thompson Sr. (Ret.), aged 68, of the Leighton Township Fire Dept. passed away peacefully in his home.  He was born in Grand Rapids on January 16, 1947, the first born of Mae (Morse) Baker and Albert Thompson.  From childhood, Terry was compelled to serve his community and help others. This carried into his adult life when he reported for duty at the 321 Club Fire Department in Grand Rapids. Terry later served on Fire Departments for Ada, Alto, and Leighton Township, where he retired with the rank of Captain as a certified First Responder and EMT. Terry was an avid outdoorsman. He raced Go-Carts, Snowmobiles, and raced his 1965 Nova professionally at Martin Speedway and unofficially on Market Street in downtown Grand Rapids. Many of his friends and family enjoyed hunting and fishing with him, especially his eldest son TJ and uncle Bob Morse.  A life-long NRA member, Terry was the Hunter’s Safety Education Coordinator for all of West Michigan and was a CCW Certification Instructor. He also volunteered for Wheelin’ Hunters by taking people with disabilities hunting. He was an Umpire for Softball leagues in Ada, and he coached his sons in both Football and Baseball. He married Nancy Sevenski on October 10, 1970. They recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary and remained committed and deeply in love with each other to the end.  Outside of family, hunting, and fishing, Terry loved NASCAR, the Detroit Tigers, MSU Football, GR Griffins Hockey, riding his motorcycle, camping, building custom fishing rods, spending time with his grandchildren, and making people laugh. He retired after over 30 years from Steelcase, known as “Gomer T.”  Terry loved to bring happiness to others, playing Santa for strangers and family alike and being called “Uncle Terry” by so many who he adopted as family. Terry is survived by his wife, Nancy; two sons: TJ (Renee) Thompson and Jamie (Maureen) Thompson and stepson, Joseph Gidley; grandchildren: Autumn, Cheyenne, Cole, Chase, Jude, Enzo, Kyleigh, and Liam; mother, Mae Baker; brothers: Ronald Thompson and Joe (Chris) Baker; step-brothers: Paul, John, and Pete (Sandy) Baker; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and in-laws who loved him. Terry was preceded in death by his father Albert Thompson; stepfather, Roy Baker; father-in-law, Joseph Sevenski; step-brother, Roy “Butch” Baker; sisters-in-law, Pam Thompson and Sheryl Baker.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday at Holy Family Church, 9669 Kraft with Fr. Loc Trinh, celebrant.  The family will receive relatives and friends at the Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Chapel (Caledonia), 616 E. Main St. on Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9 pm and also one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment at St. Augustine Cemetery in Boyne Falls, MI.  In lieu of flowers, consideration may be made to the needs of the family.