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Jack Thompson Bio Class of 1949 New Pictures Feb 25th 2011

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Jack Thompson Bio Class of 1949 New Pictures Feb 25th 2011
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John “Jack” George Thompson, age 81, of Osprey, FL, husband of Suzi Anstine Norbeck, passed away on May 27, 2013. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, MI on June 18, 1931. Jack was President of Muskegon Community College for 10 years before retiring. He and Suzi were avid travelers and visited all seven continents.

Jack was involved with the Rotary Club, Sierra Club, Hiking Clubs, and Ski and Tennis Clubs. After retiring, he became a professional photographer, and many of his photographs were displayed in the Muskegon art gallery where he was a member of the camera club and art club.

Jack and Suzi proudly established the Dr. John G. Thompson Fund which strives to ensure all segments, classes, races and religions of the community are involved in every aspect of Muskegon Community College. The fund has enabled TOPS (Tackling Obstacles Possessing Success) program to take off at MCC.

He is survived by his wife, Suzi Antine Norbeck of Osprey; brother Don Thompson of Clare, MI; daughter Suzan Hull of Mesa, AZ; step son Carl Norbeck of Wallingford, CT; step daughters Kim Keating of Hanover, NH and Karen Borgerink of Estero, FL; 7 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3:30 – 4:00 pm at Farley Funeral Home, Venice Chapel followed by a funeral service.

Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. John G. Thompson Muskegon Community College Fund 221 S Quarterline Rd, Muskegon, Michigan 49442

Farley Funeral Home is charge of local arrangements.

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Suzi and Jack
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Suzi and Jack Christmas 2010
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LaVern Neubecker Jack Jo Neubecker
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Winter 2010-2011

Keith LaFountain Jack Pat Reilly LaFountain
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Winter 2010 -2011

Jo and Corky Neubecker and Jack..Winter January 09
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Jack & Suzi Thompson..Christmas 2008
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As biographies are shared with us, we are pleased to share them with you.

Jack Thompson..Class of 1949
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Suzi Norbeck Thompson has graciously shared Jack Thompson's biography with us.
In 2007 Jack and Suzie offered a $500 scholarship to the WBHS Alumni Association. (Check the scholarship page to view the name of the 2007 Ogemaw Heights senior who received it..The link is at the bottom of this page.)
 
Jack and Suzi have also set up a scholarship fund in Jack's name with the North Central Michigan Community Foundation, which is an affiliate of Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan which covers Crawford, Ogemaw, and Oscoda counties, called The Dr.John "Jack" George Thompson Scholarship fund..(Not affiliated in any way with the WBHS Alumni Association.)
(The link for the North Central Community Foundation website is at the bottom of this page.)
 
"Jack" Thompson was born on June 18, 1931 in Sault Saint Marie, in the upper peninsula of Michigan.  He was the oldest child of Ethyl and John B. Thompson.  In 1940 Jack's family moved to Flint, Michigan and then in Jack's Junior year they moved to West Branch, Michigan where Jack completed his high school education.  He was thrilled to be elected captain of the West Branch football team after being at the school for just one year.
Jack graduated from Central Michigan College in 1953 with a major in Social Studies and a minor in Library Science.  In 1964 Jack completed his Master's degree at Wayne State University. In 1966 Jack was invited to become a "Kellogg Kid" which enabled him to complete his Ph.D. in Community College Administration at Michigan State University.
Jack's first teaching job was as Social Studies teacher at West Branch High School.  He married a West Branch girl, Leona Parmentier, and their daughter, Susan, was born in West Branch.
The highlight of Jack's professional career was the ten years he spent as President of Muskegon Community College (MCC).  Not only did Jack get adequate financial support for the college, he also built a strong bridge linking the community to the college.  At that time Jack was married to Dr. Carol Thompson, who supported him in his presidency.  While in Muskegon, Jack was the only Caucasian member of a local African American Organization.  He was a Rotarian and he served on several community Boards.  Jack was active in his church. Jack established a fund at MCC administered by the Muskegon Community Foundation which he hopes will ensure that all segments, classes, races and religions of the community are involved in every aspect of MCC.
After Jack retired from MCC in 1986, he was interim superintendent of North Muskegon High School.  He also took the position of Director of the Muskegon YMCA until a replacement could be found.
In retirement Jack studied photography and became a professional photographer.  He belonged to an art gallery where many of his photographs were sold.
In 1989 while on a photographic safari in Africa, Jack met Suzi Anstine Norbeck, an attorney from Connecticut.  They fell in love, married and moved to Mesa, Arizona to be near Jack's daughter and his three grandchildren.
Jack has always believed in giving back to the Community.
He taught physical fitness for 12 years at Muskegon YMCA.  He formed the Muskegon Hiking Club and arranged for hikes throughout Michigan culminating with a trek to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.  He was active in the Sierra Club and led many Sierra Club  trips  in Michiga and in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, often with his wife Suzi as his assistant.
One of Jack's best hikes was the Pyrenees in Spain.  And one of Jack's best trips was his bike trip, by himself, through Normandy, France.  One of Jacks favorite altruistic endeavors was coaching Little League baseball in Mesa, Arizona.  Especially enjoyable were the years he coached his grandson, Billy Hull.
Jack was pleased to win many adjudicated awards for his creative photography.  For many years, Jack taught photography in the "Learning in Retirement" program at Mesa Community College in Arizona.  He also taught "Arm Chair Travels" at the college where he showed his artistic slides of his trips around the world.  Jack served several terms on the Board of Mesa Community College "Learning in Retirement" program.
During their marriage Jack taught Suzi how to hike, how to play pinochle and how to take good photographs.
Suzi taught Jack to ski, sail and play tennis.
Jack and Suzi traveled to all seven continents and they backpacked and skied around Europe.  One of their best trips was the trip around the world which Jack arranged.  Jack fell in love with France. Paris is his favorite city and Normandy is his favorite region. Van Gogh is his favorite artist.
The John "Jack" G. Thompson Scholarship Fund (through the North Central Michigan Foundation)
was established in 2007 as a tribute to Jack's years in West Branch and his work in education.  The scholarship helps to support students graduating from Ogemaw Heights High School
 
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(Jack is suffering from Alzheimers and will no longer be able to meet and greet old friends at the annual Alumni Banquet. Messages left on this website for him will be forwarded to his wife, Suzi, who will be happy to share them with Jack.)
 

Jack Thompson...Class of 1949
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Jack & Suzi offered a scholarship through the WBHS Alumni Association in 2007 & 2009. Click here to see the names of the recipients...

North Central Michigan Community Foundation website..click here

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