James Edward Thompson Jr.
September 22, 1939 – June 30, 2024
James “Jim” Edward Thompson, Jr., 84, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Sunrise of Lenexa, Lenexa, Kansas. Memorial services will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Harrisonville, MO, with the visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. Inurnment to follow in Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
Jim was born September 22, 1939, in St. Louis, MO, a son of James Edward and Lucy (Rudruff) Thompson, Sr. He grew up in the St. Louis area and after high school attended St. Benedict’s College in Atchison, KS.
While in Atchison, Jim met his future wife, Gail Skinner. They were united in marriage August 19, 1961, during a Solemn High Mass at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Beatrice, Nebraska. After graduation, Jim and Gail moved to Columbia, MO, where Jim attended the University of Missouri Law School. In 1964, after receiving his Juris Doctor Degree, Jim accepted a position with the Crouch, Spanger, Douglas Law Firm in Harrisonville. He continued to work for the law firm over 50 years until his retirement.
Jim’s hobbies included coaching little league sports and his football teams of 3rd and 4th graders went undefeated for 14 years. In 1974, Jim became the “Voice of the Wildcats”, announcing Harrisonville High School football games. Jim gave up his announcing job 26 years later in 2000 and was inducted into the Harrisonville Wildcats Football Hall of Fame in 2018. He was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Harrisonville.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gail, on August 19, 2012; and a sister, Kathy McAfee. He is survived by a son, Jim Thompson, Weldon Springs, MO; a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Dave Dulny, Shawnee, KS; a brother, Gary Thompson, Las Vegas, Nevada; and four grandchildren: Adam and Ryan Thompson, Amanda and Zachary Dulny; and many other relatives and friends.
