Obituaries

Jeanne Emily (Jarvie) Thompson, age 83, of Newberry, Michigan, died on February 24, 2024, at EUP Hospice House of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She was born on March 14, 1940, in Sault Ste. Marie, to Silho Weikko and Lempi Aleene (Oja) Jarvie.

Jeanne grew up in Sault Ste. Marie and graduated from Sault High School in 1958. After high school she attended Northeastern School of Commerce in Bay City, Michigan, completing the secretarial course. Upon graduation, she returned to Sault Ste. Marie and began working at Coates & Klein Law Firm. In September 1961, she married Richard Haapala, and had two daughters, Heather, and Erika. The family enjoyed many summers at the Haapala Cottage in Cedarville, Michigan and many get-togethers with dear friends, including Virginia (Toots) & Don Golanka.

In 1980, Jeanne began her career at Lake Superior State University Norris Center where she worked in the Recreation/Exercise Science Department and eventually retired from the Criminal Justice & Fire Science Department. Through her years there she had many work-study students who thought of her as their second Mom.

Jeanne was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church where she sang in the Choir for many years.

In 1988, on advice from friends Jack and Ruth Truckey, Jeanne was set up on a blind date that would change everything. Jeanne and Jim Thompson, from Newberry, went on a blind date that was the beginning of a beautiful life together. Jeanne and Jim married in 1991, in Gulf Shores, Alabama blending their families. Jeanne and Jim enjoyed spending time at the hunting camp, traveling, golfing, doing crafts together, and entertaining with friends. When Jim’s health started to decline, Jeanne was an excellent caregiver to Jim, keeping him home as long as she possibly could.

Jeanne was also an avid reader and crafty. In the early years, she sewed all her daughters’ clothes and items for her twin niece and nephew, Erin (Haapala) Pearson and Andy Haapala. She enjoyed knitting and would often knit hats to donate to local charities. But golfing was by far her favorite activity. She could be seen on the Newberry Country Club course 5-6 times a week with her golf partners, Mary Saunders, Scotty Bronz, and Laverne Haggar, right up through the fall of 2023. Her clubs were always in the trunk of her car because you never know when someone would want to play.
Jeanne loved her many lunch and shopping trips with her dear friends Scotty, and Laverne. She will be dearly missed by her many friends and Jarvie cousins. She was the kind of person who, when you mentioned to others, would elicit expressions of love and admiration from those who knew her best and anyone who was to cross her path.

Jeanne is survived by her daughters, Heather Haapala of Sault Ste. Marie and Erika (Dan) Frechette of Naples, Florida; grandchild, Ryan Morley of Brimley, Michigan; seven stepchildren, Stephen Thompson of Tennessee, Becky (Fred) Russo of Michigan, Pattie (Mark) Izmond of Michigan, Scott (Shelley) Thompson of Illinois, Cindy Thompson of Washington, Kevin (Dee) Thompson of California and Karen (Ivan Fende) Thompson of Michigan; thirteen Thompson grandchildren that she adored; special niece and Goddaughter, Laurie (Sedestrom) Krell of Michigan; special nephew, Matthew Gray of South Carolin; nieces and nephews, Erin (Haapala) Pearson of Florida, Andy Haapala of Michigan, Sue (Gray) Rothermel of North Carolina and Marty (Sedestrom) Guthrie of Virginia.

Jeanne is preceded in death by her husband, James Thompson; parents, Silho and Lempi Jarvie; sister, Mary; brother-in-law, Don Gray; son-in-law, Michael MacInnis; nephew, Rob Gray and her beloved dog Sarah.

Celebration of Life will be in the Spring of 2024.

Memorials may be left to the Hospice of the E.U.P, 308 W. 12th Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783.

Family Life Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.