J. Michael Thompson

J. Michael Thompson, age 71, of Mattawan, MI fought the good fight and finished the race Monday morning, August 22, 2016 at his home. He began that race on June 23, 1945 in Cleveland, OH the eldest son of Robert L. and Elizabeth J. (Firestone) Thompson. He excelled in athletics and academics and graduated from Kalamazoo Central in 1963. Mike met his beautiful wife Sharon (Briggs) at Central Michigan University and married her on August 14, 1966 (they celebrated their 50th anniversary last week). Shortly after, Michael began his career teaching high school English and coaching a myriad of sports in Merrill, MI. After 15 years there, he moved back to the Kalamazoo area as an investment planner with Oppenheimer. He was a founding member and elder of New Hope Fellowship Church in Paw Paw, MI and poured his energy into his friends and church family, but especially his ten grandchildren ranging in ages of 20 to 6 years old. Michael was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter Michelle Elizabeth Thompson. Along with his lovely wife, he is survived by three children and their spouses, Troy (Lori) Thompson of St. Joseph, MI, Chad (Gayle) Thompson of Paw Paw and Nicole (Kyle) Douglass of Mattawan; ten grandchildren; three brothers, Ronald (Edna) Thompson of Richland, Donald (Nancy) Thompson of Grand Rapids and Thomas (Sharon) Thompson of Grand Rapids; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 25th from 4 to 8pm at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street. Services will be held on Friday, August 26th at 11am at New Hope Fellowship Church, 201 W. Michigan Ave. in Paw Paw. Interment will be held in Maple Grove Cemetery in Mattawan.