William H. Thomsen

THOMSEN, William H., born on September 18, 1920, in Black Hawk County, Iowa, to George and Elizabeth Thomsen, died after a long illness on July 22, 2007, in Tucson, where he had lived much of his adult life. Bill served his country with courage and distinction in the United States Navy during World War II. On December 7, 1941, he was serving on the U.S.S. Nevada, the only ship to get underway during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that morning. In addition to having been awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the war, Bill was one of those who received a Presidential Unit Citation for heroism, aggressiveness, and vigilance shown by his anti-submarine task force group led by his ship, the U.S.S. Bogue, which was active against enemy submarines threatening Allied supply routes in the North Atlantic, in 1943 and 1944. Bill also served on light cruiser the U.S.S. St. Louis and the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp and was one of those awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for heroism displayed by the crew in several actions in the Pacific Theatre. Following his discharge from the Navy, Bill moved to Tucson in 1947 and spent the rest of his life in Arizona, primarily in Tucson and Willcox. He was employed for many years with the Ashton Company and, later, with M.M. Sundt Company. During those years, he acted as the construction superintendent on projects building bridges, interchanges, and long stretches of roadway on Interstate 10 and Interstate 40, as well as on diverse other projects. Bill was proud of being a 32nd degree Mason and of being a charter member of the Sabbar Shrine. And although he did not take up golf until he was in his 50's, he quickly became an avid and enthusiastic golfer whose highly individualistic golf swing, sportsmanship, good humor, and encouragement to fellow golfers will not be forgotten by his friends. He firmly believed that a bad day on the golf course was better than a good day anywhere else. Preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Ila Larum and Alta Amaya. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Frances Thomsen; brothers, Jack Thomsen of Needles, California, Daryl Thomsen of Waterloo, Iowa and Don Thomsen of La Porte City, Iowa; children, Susan Thomsen of Olympia, Washington and William H. Thomsen II of Sequim, Washington; stepchildren, Lea Courington of Dallas, Texas and John Courington of Lawton, Oklahoma; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His memorial service will be held on August 25, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 8051 E. Broadway Boulevard, Tucson. Bill's family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made instead to Alzheimer's Association, 5132 E. Pima, Tucson, AZ 85712. Arrangements by BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway.