Jodi Lynn Thompson

1975 - 2017

(News story) Jodi Lynn Thompson, a canine care technician at the Lucas County Canine Care & Control for 15 years, died Jan. 1 in her West Toledo home. She was 41.

Her sister, Tricia St. Meyers, said Ms. Thompson's death was sudden and the family does not yet know the cause.

She was born Sept. 9, 1975, in Sylvania to Vickie Steiner and Alexander Wilhelmi. Since childhood, Ms. Thompson had always enjoyed having a variety of pets.

"She was such an animal lover," Ms. St. Meyers said.

Her passion led her to become a pet caregiver at local veterinary practices after graduating from Whitmer High School in 1994. She then found a job with the county shelter and had cared for thousands of dogs there over the course of 15 years.

Walter Raftery III is a canine control officer with the shelter and the department's union representative for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 544. He said Ms. Thompson had a knack for handling troublesome canines.

"Jodi was very good with difficult dogs, especially the smaller dogs," he said. "She took the time out of her day to put a little more effort into them. It made a big difference. She made their lives better."

Many of the dogs she took extra time with went on to be adopted into new families or were transferred to area rescues. She adopted four from the county shelter herself, and had a total of six small rescue dogs at home.

Mr. Raftery said she had recently worked about 20 days in a row to provide the necessary care for the shelter's dogs over the holiday season and allow her co-workers to spend more time with their families. Ms. Thompson had been in line to become a canine control officer in about two months.

"Lucas County animals have lost one of their best friends," Mr. Raftery said. "She gave her heart and soul to them."

Outside of her work, Ms. Thompson spent the vast majority of her time with family, especially her teenage daughters Chalei Thompson and Chazmin Duff.

"When she wasn't at work, she was with family," Ms. St. Meyers said.

She married Darnae Thompson in August of 1994. The couple divorced in 1998, but had since reconciled.

Ms. Thompson enjoyed practical jokes, and was known for her polychromatic style. She had many color tattoos, was particularly fond of peacocks, and often pinned flowers in her hair.

"She was always very colorful," Ms. St. Meyers said. "That was just Jodi."

Family and shelter staff have been wearing flowers in Ms. Thompson's memory.

Ms. Thompson is survived by two daughters, Chalei Thompson and Chazmin Duff; husband, Darnae Thompson; mother, Vickie Steiner; father, Alexander Wilhelmi; step-father, Jeff Steiner; sister, Tricia St. Meyers; half-sister, Amy Fritz; and step-brothers, Nick Steiner and Brett Steiner.

A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. today at Castillo Funeral Home, 1757 Tremainsville Rd. in Toledo.

The family suggests tributes to Cutie's Fund at the Lucas County Canine Care & Control, which helps pay for veterinary care for dogs in need at the county shelter.

This is a news story by Blade staff writer Alexandra Mester. Contact her at amester@theblade.com, 419-724-6066, or on Twitter @AlexMesterBlade.