Allen Thompson

Al Thompson, 73, of Fort Morgan, Colorado passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2018, in Aurora, Colorado after a lengthy battle with leukemia. Born on October 19, 1944, to Norwegian parents Clifford and Pearl (Strand) Thompson, Al was the youngest of 6 children raised on a farm North of Limon, Colorado. As a farm boy, he learned to drive tractors and trucks at an early age. He attended Limon High School and enjoyed singing in the Limon Show Choir and playing football with a State Champion team where he was an All-State Defensive Tackle. After graduating from Limon High School in 1962, Al enlisted in the Army and was fortunate to be stationed in Germany instead of Vietnam. Al was honorably discharged from the Army due to an injury during an automobile accident caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. He returned home with a large pin in his ankle where he went to work for an electrician before hiring on as Member Services Director with the Mountain View Electric. Al set out to meet his wife of almost 49 years, Pat after talking with her on the telephone and seeing her picture in the paper. They were married on February 14, 1969 in Limon, Colorado. Together they raised 3 children. As a young man, Al enjoyed traveling, waterskiing, and fishing and as he matured he looked forward to camping, boating, shooting, and woodworking. His favorite hobby was spending time with his family. He was a proud dad and grandpa who felt his greatest accomplishment was his family and he took joy in his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments. His family and friends enjoyed his sense of humor and his harmless jokes. His first contact with his wife was a telephone call into the State Patrol Dispatch to report a “fatality” on Highway 71. When she asked if he was sure it was a fatality, he replied: “Yep, that cow is definitely dead!” Al loved to tease his kids and grandkids. He would give his daughter grief about always yapping on the phone or razz his son-in-law about having the ability to break an anvil. He even scrounged up the perfect gag gift for him…a broken anvil! Al was a treasure hunter who firmly believed that one man’s trash was another man’s treasure. He was always able to sniff out thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets in search of hidden treasures. Anyone who mentioned that they had a need of something was sure to have him on the hunt for it. Al was a hard worker, thinker, and caring man who left a mark on all he met. He had a capacity to get things done, a vast knowledge of his craft, and ability to fix things that are broken. His family and friends knew he was the one to call if they had something that needs to be repaired. Al was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters. He is survived by his wife, Pat of Fort Morgan; daughters Elise (Derek) Gerken of Fort Morgan and Erika (Brent) Portwood of Austin, Texas; his son Evan (Terri) Thompson of Fort Morgan; and 6 grandchildren: Conner Gerken, Trevor Gerken, Brandon Portwood, Devin Gerken, Elizabeth Portwood and Nathan Gerken.