Marsha L. Thompson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Marsha Louise Thompson, of Loda, passed away on Monday, August 1, 2022, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. She is survived by her husband, Ron of Loda, IL; a daughter, Sarah (and husband Will) Carter of Loda, IL; and a son, Michael (and wife Sheraleen) Thompson of Arlington Heights. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Braden Mutchmore and Carly Mutchmore of Loda, and Gabriel Thompson and Maddie Thompson of Arlington Heights; two brothers, Roy Garr (and wife Cathy) of Phoenix, AZ, and Lee Garr (and wife Jerry) of Venice, FL; one sister, Nadine Varrato of Elk Grove Village, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Bonnie, and her newborn son, Jeffrey. Marsha was born to Leroy and Eleanor Garr on April 28, 1948, in Chicago. When she was four, her family moved to Arlington Heights. Marsha graduated from Prospect High School in 1966. She graduated from Western Illinois University in 1970, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. Marsha met her husband, Ron, at Western Illinois University and they were married on June 26, 1971, in Arlington Heights. Marsha taught one year in Arlington, and then after she and Ron married, they moved to the family farm near Paxton. Later that year, she began teaching in Paxton. She taught a total of 39 years and retired from the Paxton-Buckley-Loda school district in 2013. Marsha was a long-time coach for Junior High Girls Basketball, and for the Junior High Track team. She enjoyed the roller-skating units and the end of the year sports days. She loved to play golf, swim, and read. Her fondest memories include her childhood family vacations to northern Wisconsin, and later, vacations there with her siblings and their children. She also fondly remembered family trips to Disney World with her children and grandchildren, and her trips with siblings in recent years as well as time spent with her cousins. Ron and Marsha joined the First Baptist Church of Rantoul in 1975, where they were both very active. Marsha served as a deaconess for many years. They loved that the Word of God was central at First Baptist. They also treasured the fellowship and the loving atmosphere. The prayer warriors at First Baptist, as well as a huge number of family, friends, neighbors, and even the friends of friends who had been praying for her, were a tremendous blessing to Marsha and helped her navigate the difficult times in her life. Even though she didn’t have the strength to read the texts and emails and respond to all her friends and supporters at the end, she wanted it to be known that she really appreciated the messages, emails and texts she received from people saying that they were praying for her and supporting her. Although Marsha was a long-term cancer patient, she did not view hers as a battle with cancer. She viewed the path with cancer not as a battle, but as the path God had for her to walk; and she accepted that path. A Celebration of Marsha’s life will be held on Friday, August 5, 2022, at 11:30am, with visitation time starting at 10:00am, at First Baptist Church of Rantoul. A burial will follow at Glen Cemetery in Paxton. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Rantoul.

Marsha L. Thompson

April 28, 1948 - August 1, 2022