Col. Nelson Loren Thompson, USA (Ret.)
June 5, 1927 ~ March 7, 2014
PORTLAND - COL. Nelson Loren Thompson, USA (Ret.) of Portland, Sebago Lake, and Alexandria, VA, was born into eternal life on March 7, 2014, while holding the hand of his daughter, Ann. The son of Lillian May (Johnson) and Willis Francis Thompson, Nelson, known by his family and friends as Nels, was born June 5, 1927 in Portland, Maine. Nels married his "OAO" (one and only) Margaret Mary Kennedy on the first possible date - his graduation from West Point, June 6, 1950. Margaret and Nels based their 59-year marriage on love, partnership, family, faith, and service to this country. Nels and Margaret instilled these values in their four children, 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Nels and Margaret became sweethearts after meeting on the tennis courts at Deering High School during their freshman year 1942. They remained sweethearts throughout high school, where Nels served as a Deering High School Cadet all four years. During his senior year he was a Battalion Commander. In choosing Nels as her sweetheart and later her husband, Margaret understood that their life would be devoted to military service. Nels earned an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, entering the US Army as a Cadet in 1946. After graduation from West Point, he was Commissioned 2nd LT, US Army, Field Artillery. The couple began their married life abroad, as Nels was stationed in Austria (Vienna, Linz and Salzburg). Nels and Margaret travelled throughout Europe including Switzerland, Bavaria, France, England, Belgium, Denmark and Holland. During this assignment they were blessed with the birth of their first child, Linda, born in Munich Germany. Returning to the states in 1953 they were stationed at Fort Sill Oklahoma, Fort Bliss Texas, and then West Point, New York, where they welcomed the births of their son William and a second daughter, Ann. From 1958 to 1968 Nels was deeply immersed in the nationally critical PERSHING nuclear missile program. During these years Margaret and Nels rejoiced in the birth of their fourth and youngest child, Mary. In 1969 Nels served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a commander on the frontline. He was wounded in the line of duty twice, having taken shrapnel on one occasion and having his helicopter shot down in enemy territory on another occasion. He earned the Purple Heart based on his service in Vietnam.After Nels returned from combat, he spent time assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and a year at the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA. In 1971 the young family returned to Europe for a three-year assignment in Heidelberg, Germany. Returning to the United States in 1974, Nels was assigned to DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the scientific think-tank within the Office of the Secretary of Defense designed to advance the state of the art of weapons technologies. Nels worked on a project that included the development and demonstration of technology for a "smart" air defense missile. Nels and his colleagues at DARPA created what we now know as the internet and Stealth technologies. Nels became a defense technology consultant for DARPA after he retired from active duty military. While the family lived all over the world, Maine has always been home. Margaret and Nels returned to Maine to spend each summer at their "Cedar Lodge" on Sebago Lake. Their Sebago Lake home provided a true family retreat, creating happy memories for their visiting children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Known as "G'pa" to the growing Thompson clan, Nels was devoted to his family. As the head of the Thompson clan, Nels dedicated his retirement years to ensuring that his family was loved and connected to each other. He made sure that all of his family could come together at the lake house from wherever they were in the world. Through his leadership and love the Thompson family will always be strong. Nels was also passionate about protecting Sebago Lake. He was an active member of Friends of Sebago Lake (FOSL). Nels was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Nathan Thompson, his wife Margaret Kennedy Thompson, his daughter Linda Thompson Plewes and his granddaughter Olivia J. Howard. Nels is survived by his son William Thompson of Denver, CO., daughter Ann Thompson of Falmouth, daughter Mary Thompson Howard and her husband Todd Howard of Woodbridge, VA; his grandchildren Elizabeth Plewes McKee and her husband MAJOR (USA) Matthew McKee of Fort Bragg, NC, Margaret Plewes and her husband Jeremy Latt of San Mateo, CA., Anne Plewes Kremer and her husband John Kremer of Indiana, Lauren Plewes of Bloomington, IN, Kaitlin Thompson of Denver, CO, Allen Mazerolle of Falmouth, Rachel Mazerolle of Falmouth, Rosser Howard of Woodbridge, VA., Julia Howard of Woodbridge, VA., and Emma Howard of Woodbridge, VA., and his great-granddaughters Isabelle and Fionnuala McKee and Kenzie Kremer. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 1:00 pm, Thursday, March 13, 2014 at St. Joseph's Church, 673 Stevens Ave., Portland. Committal service will be at 10:00 am, Friday, March 14, 2014, at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, Catholic Chapel, followed by interment in the historic Post Cemetery. Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State St. Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Friends of Sebago Lake, 385 Menotomy Road, Fryeburg, ME 04037.Online condolences may be expressed below.
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Dear Ann and the rest of the Thompson clan, My thoughts and prayers go out to you on the death of your wonderful Dad. I have great memories of days at Sebago Lake with him teaching us to water ski (I almost made a liar out of him when he said he never had a student who couldn’t get up on the skis) and moose hunting around the property. Peace and God speed. Love, Nancy
– Nancy Eick