Dr. Donna Jean Thompson, age 84, of Cedar Falls, passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Creekside Living in Grundy Center. Dr. Thompson was a Professor Emerita in Physical Education at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and the Founder of the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS). She was born June 26, 1939, in Seattle, Washington to Charles and Grace (Arney) Thompson. However, her roots in Iowa go back two generations as her Arney grandparents farmed on land north of Marshalltown before relocating to Oregon in the late 1880's.
Dr. Thompson graduated from Queen Anne's High School in Seattle before studying at Western Washington State University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Home Economics in 1961. She taught Physical Education for two years at Shoreline Public Schools in Seattle, before moving to
Wheaton, Illinois where she taught in the Wheaton and Downer's Grove School districts. During this time, she pursued a master's degree in New and Old Testament at Wheaton College and graduated in 1966. She was an energetic Physical Education Instructor at Iowa State University from 1969-1972. Dr. Thompson had a deep interest in physical education and teaching at the University level and earned a Ph.D. at The Ohio State University in Physical Education in Curriculum 1974. Upon graduation, Dr. Thompson accepted a one-year appointment at Kansas State University in 1974 before undertaking a position as Associate Professor of Physical Education at UNI in 1975.
Dr. Thompson not only enjoyed being active and promoting physical education, but she also had a skill for coordinating programs and being involved in daily operations. Between 1987 - 1989, she served as the Director of Women's Studies Program at UNI and enjoyed coordinating the outreach of the project's initiatives. She also provided leadership to professional organizations including the American Association of Leisure and Recreation, Committee on Play, American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Central Association of Physical Education for College Women, Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, the National Recreation and Parks Association Playground Safety Institute, American Leisure Academy, and the American Society for Testing and Materials International. In the Cedar Valley, she served on the Black Hawk, YWCA Board of Directors, and the Board of Conestoga Girl Scouts,
Dr. Thompson's real passion was for the well-being and safety of children, especially in play spaces and playgrounds found in public areas. Her interest began with her doctoral dissertation which examined the physical movement and play patterns of children using playground equipment. In the dedication page of her dissertation, she wrote: "Dedicated to children who use space in more than one way, in directions unlimited, in ranges unbelievable, in levels unequivocal."
In 1995, Dr. Thompson submitted a major grant proposal to the Centers for Disease Control and Injury Prevention (CDC) to fund a nation-wide advocacy effort to help prevent the over 200,000 injuries occurring each year on public playgrounds. The grant application which was fully supported by both Senators Harkin and Grassley was fully funded. It became the longest running renewable CDC funded grant during the period 1995-2005.
Dr. Thompson's organizational skills were integral to providing a solid foundation for the establishment of the National Program for Playground Safety (1995). Under her guidance, the program formed private and public relationships with major professional, commercial, and governmental organizations such as the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); National Head Start; the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Department of Defense Child Services programs for all branches of the military, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and various state departments serving children and youth. Through cutting-edge research, professional presentations at the local, state, national, and international levels, in-person training programs, and personal appearances on all major news networks including ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, and NBC; the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) became recognized as the premier program in the nation providing research, training, and advocacy for children's play at the local, state, national and international levels. During her tenure as Executive Director of NPPS (1995-2014), she and staff members traveled to all fifty states and four continents providing information through workshops, training programs, and presentations advocating for the provision of safe play areas for children.
Her service to the profession was recognized by numerous national awards including the Honor Award from the American Alliance for Health Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAPHERD); the Distinguished Alumni Award from Western Washington University; and the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence from the Iowa Board of Regents. However, her greatest accomplishment and legacy was to the differences she made in children's lives across the nation through her advocacy efforts to make America's play areas safe.
In retirement, Dr. Thompson continued her commitment to service through her active volunteer work with the American Red Cross and
Habitat for Humanity. In addition, she was active in the Nazareth Lutheran Church, singing in the choir and participating in Bible study groups. She was an avid supporter of UNI athletics through contributions to the Panther Scholarship Club and her attendance at UNI's Panther football, basketball, and volleyball home games. She also supported cheering on The Ohio State Buckeye sports teams as well as the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears teams.
Dr. Thompson is survived by her brother, Dale (Diane) Thompson of Lacey, Washington, Sister-in--law Linda Thompson of
Longview, Washington, several nieces and nephews; close friend Shirley Shogren and family; and her NPPS colleagues Dr. Susan Hudson and Dr. Heather Olsen who continued to provide support and care during her lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Dick Thompson.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at Creekside Living at Grundy Center for their compassionate service and care during Dr. Thompson's final months as well as Care Initiative Hospice for their help in her final weeks.
Private family burial services will be held in Washington State. A Celebration of Life service will occur on March 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the Larsen Chapel at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls (use entrance #7 off University Ave). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Donna J. Thompson (Playground) Trust at Basecamp Financial Planners, 2813 Terrace Drive,
Cedar Falls, IA 50613; Nazareth Lutheran Church – Music Fund or Blessed Beginnings - the Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church, 7401 University Ave.
Cedar Falls, IA 50613; or
Habitat for Humanity, Iowa Heartland 803 W. 5th St.,
Waterloo, IA. 50702.