Claire A. Tompkins

GARNER – Claire A. Tompkins, 84, of Garner died Friday (June 22, 2007) after dealing with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease at Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Monday at the United Methodist Church in Garner. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery in Garner.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 P.M., Sunday, June 24th at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or the Garner United Methodist Church.

Claire Albert Tompkins, the son of Purd S. and Viola (Burnham) Tompkins, was born November 10, 1922, at their farm home east of Garner. He graduated from Garner High School in 1940 and married Bettylou Bohn on February 14, 1953. Family was important to him and he was a major presence in the lives of his own children as well as those of his nieces and nephews. Claire enjoyed an especially close relationship with his brother Dean; they shared their love of the outdoors through hunting and farming, which was a way of life more than just an occupation. It gave him pleasure to share his talents with others, singing in the church choir, in a men’s quartet, and solos for various functions, applying his woodworking skill and ingenuity to help with family hobbies, and enjoying gardening after his retirement from farming.

Claire is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth (Bettylou), of Garner and two children, Jay Tompkins of Dallas, TX and Julie (Richard) Bahlmann of Des Moines; his brother’s wife, Betty Tompkins, and their children Allen (Marian) Tompkins; Larry (Sandi) Tompkins; and Beth (Michael) Beaver.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ruth Tompkins; his brother, Dean Tompkins; and a niece, Barbara Tompkins.