Steven James Thompson, age 88, of Pardeeville, passed away Monday, May 11, 2026 at Heritage House in Portage, WI. He was born July 31, 1937 in Neilsville, WI the son of Richard H “Hoot” Thompson and Alyce “Ally” Jorns. 

At the age of two his family moved to Pardeeville where “Hoot” joined his father in the Pardeeville-Wyocena Times, the local newspaper. Steve and his wife Patsy bought the newspaper from his parents in 1983 which was named The Mid-County Times at that time. 

After graduation from Pardeeville High School in 1955 ,and a year at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, he joined the U S NAVY. Following basic training at the Great Lake training center, he was assigned to Aviation Photography school at Pensacola, FL. Next he was stationed at NAS Beeville, Texas. Then transferred to NAS Jackson Field at Jacksonville, FL. He was in photo-intelligence. It was in this capacity that he met his wife Patsy Jean Boggs of South Carolina. They were married at the chapel on Jacksonville Field. When his enlistment expired he returned to Pardeeville so he could curl. He went into the family business with his parents, wife, and other family members. 

Steve also was a rural mail carrier for 30 years starting as a substitute carrier and working up to a full time route. He often said that he had lived in 12 homes in Pardeeville but had lived in the house on Morton Street for over 60 years. The house was built by Yates Ashley, the brother-in-law of John S. Pardee - the founder of Pardeeville.

Steve was very active in community activities. He was a fourth generation member of the Pardeeville Curling Club for 50 years, founding member of the Dual County Community Band, member of the Friesland Band, The Pardeeville Garden Club, and The Pardeeville Area Business Association. He was a contributing participant of the Pardeeville Watermelon Festival, Member of Pardeeville Lions Club, American Legion Post 215 and was a member of the Village Board for 15 years, member of Badger Steam and Gas, and the Angie Williams Cox library board. He also was a fifth generation member of First Presbyterian Church in Pardeeville and served as an Elder, Deacon, and other committees as needed. 

Steve loved to travel, curling, spending time with friends and family, trains, reading, history, music, gardening, birdwatching and woodworking.

He is survived by his daughters Sara Marie Thompson-Pittenger of Colorado Springs and Ruth Jean Thompson of Pardeeville; and grandchild Calliope B. Pittenger of Colorado Springs. He is also survived by one brother-in-law Kent Corning of McFarland, WI; two sister- in-laws, Ethel McLaughlin of Florida, Trina Campbel of South Carolina, and many nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Patsy Jean and son-in-law Baaron Pittenger, siblings Judith Barden, Ellen Corning and Paul Thompson and brother-in-law Lee Barden.

Memorials may be made to: First Presbyterian Church, Wyocena Helping Hands Food Pantry, American Civil Liberties Union, or the American Diabetes Foundation.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, June 5, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at Grasse Funeral Home in Pardeeville. Visitation will be on Thursday, June 4 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Grasse Funeral Home in Pardeeville and again Friday at 10:00 A.M. until the Memorial Service. Inurnment will be held at the Pardeeville Cemetery with Military Honors.