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Leo Thompsen Obituary

Longtime Alaska resident Leo M. Thompsen, 83, died July 24, 2007, of congestive heart failure at Providence Extended Care.
A memorial service will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at First Covenant Church, 1145 C St.
Mr. Thompsen was born June 1, 1924, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and attended school there. He enlisted in the Army in 1942, serving overseas as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division and participating in the famous Battle of the Bulge.
After World War II, he earned a civil engineering degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. In 1953, he moved to Alaska and began working for the territorial fisheries in Juneau. There he met and married Harriet Habberstad. They started a family, ending up in Anchorage in 1965.
Leo worked for several government agencies before retiring from the Corps of Engineers at Fort Richardson in 1986.
In retirement, he and Harriet ran a B&B during the summers and traveled during the winters until Harriet died in 1997. Leo met Ileen Ellison in 1998, and they had been inseparable ever since.
Leo enjoyed stamp collecting, traveling and clam chowder. Along with other 101st Airborne Division survivors, he was a frequent guest speaker on the subject of World War II.
Leo was a member and officer of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Pioneers of Alaska, Sons of Norway, various philatelic societies, Disabled American Veterans, AARP and NARFE.
His family wrote: "He will be remembered as a loving husband, companion and father and an
entrepreneur for and volunteer leader of many organizations. He was outgoing and charmed everyone with his sense of humor and joy of life. He will be missed dearly."
He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Harriet; and brother, Kenneth.
Leo is survived by his children, David and Joani Thompsen of Peters Creek, Karen and Lt. Col. Denis Delaney of San Antonio, Texas, and Joann Thompsen of Fircrest, Wash.; five grandsons, Joshua Thompsen, Jason and Joshua Thompsen, and Andrew and Daniel Delaney; six great-grandchildren; and Ileen Ellison, his devoted companion and best friend.
Memorials may be directed to First Covenant Church Benevolent Fund, 1145 C St., 99501, or the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 200387, Anchorage 99520.
Local arrangements are with Witzleben Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Anchorage Daily News on Jul. 31, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Leo Thompsen

18 Entries

Greg Thoelke

August 20, 2007

I will greatly miss Leo's easy laugh, sharp wit and genuine gentleness...every conversation I had with this wonderful man was filled with adventure, wisdom and a most sincere sense of caring. I am grateful to have known him.

Susan Brockman

August 7, 2007

I am sorry that Leo is no longer with us. I will miss his visits to Kodiak and I enjoyed his easy-going manner and sense of humor. Ileen and I are good friends.

Ruth Vincent Willis

August 7, 2007

I first met Leo in 1954 when he was an enginerr at Kitoi Bay on Afognak Island, Alaska. My husband and I appreciated his values and friendship. Looking in the index of my book, In the Wake of the Frontier, by Ruth E. Vincent, I notice that I mentioned Leo on six separate pages. I have heard lovely compliments of Harriet but lost contact with Leo in the latter 1950s. Coincidental circumstance brought me in contact with Leo again in 2005 and thus with Ilene who brought so much light and vitality to his life. In 2006 Leo and Ilene generously hosted my husband and me in Kodiak and gave us the use of their condo in Anchorage when we went to Alaska for booksignings. We greatly appreciated Leo, and our hearts ache for Ilene and Leo's family. May God give the needed grace to you each.

Bill Lawson

August 5, 2007

Sorry to hear of Leo's passing. We enjoyed good times with hin and Ileen,here on the Oregon coast and in Kodiak. He had a sence of humor. We will miss him. God bless. Shirley and Bill Lawson

Philip Thompsen

August 5, 2007

Leo had a sincere and enduring love of life. He was a kind and generous man, who believed in the fundamental goodness of humanity. One couldn't have asked for a better uncle. I will miss his corny sense of humor, his impish grin, and his endearing personality.

Marilyn Wakeland

August 5, 2007

We first met at the "Y" swimming pool doing aerobics. Leo was so much fun. Then my husband and I joined the 101st group where we heard more about him. What an accomplished person. Surely he will be missed tremendously. My thoughts and prayers are with Ilene. Bill and Marilyn Wakeland

Sherry Ashmun

August 5, 2007

We enjoyed our visits with Leo and Illene when they would come to Oregon, and now we will miss him and his humor. Our best to his family and Illene. Rees and Lola John and Sherry Ashmun

Ann Christiansen

August 5, 2007

I have a lot of good memories of my cousin Mel especially from our Brooklyn years.
My deepest condolences to the family.

Berit Pettersen

August 5, 2007

I only got to know Leo in the last couple of years primarily via emails and a couple of phone calls as a result of our cousin Ann's illness. Although we never met he became my email 'buddy'. He used to send me wonderful nature information from the Alaska papers and I used to send him stamps from some of the countries I visited. I will miss him!
My sincere condolences to his family.

C. J. & Linda Keller & family

August 4, 2007

We were very sorry to hear of Leo's passing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and also our cousin Ileen.

Guy and Barb Hugo

August 4, 2007

We knew Leo for over 40 years as a good friend and we considered him our "Alaskan Dad". We will miss him and look forward someday to eating clam chowder in Heaven with him.

Alfred B. Malmquist

August 1, 2007

Goodbye dear and faithful friend of my youth. I will miss the wit and wisdom we have shared since 1937. I will miss the openness we shared on so many serious and frivolous topics over the years. We understood and accepted our differences without prejudice or animosity. We led vastly different lives and yet we were as close as though we were blood relatives. You were the brother I never had.
Now you have joined the other "musketeer", Ernie, and I hope you guys are saving a spot for me.
Thanks for being in my life.
Al

Al B. Malmquist

August 1, 2007

I knew Leo as "Mel". We were childhood pals in Brooklyn and maintained contact throughout the years.
Good luck on your new journey buddy! See you eventually.

Jerry LaFevers

August 1, 2007

Leo came into our lives 3 years ago. His humor and optimism was endless and quite refreshing. He was a very funny man. My wife and kids loved the Mothers Day lunches that we shared with Leo and Ilene at the Senior Center and Justin loves the globe he gave us. He always told me how much he loved Ilene and how lucky he was that she was in his life. He was loved and will be sorely missed. The LaFevers Family

Karen Wehmhoff Burgard

August 1, 2007

I remember Leo as Joann's Dad. I remember the twinkle in his eye and the way he would joke around with my father. My sympathy and prayers go to his family.

Elizabeth Cook

July 31, 2007

Leo could be really cranky when others were being foolish. But, he was, at heart, a nice guy. He was also a smart and engaging man who took the time and had the patience to help others. Our sympathy is offered to his family.

Steve Wehmhoff

July 31, 2007

Leo was one of my late father's best friends. There always seemed to be some sort of mischief that would happen when they got together. We will all miss him,

Ralph & Ruth Carlson

July 31, 2007

Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of Leo.

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