Joel Edward Thompson III

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Joel Edward Thompson, III, 51, died unexpectedly on Friday, September 28, 2018, in Bloomington, Indiana.

Joel was born on April 25, 1967 in Fort Dix, New Jersey to Jane and Joel Thompson. He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University and became a certified paramedic and ultimately a registered nurse. After moving to Trafalgar, Indiana, Joel began working for the local hospital and finally Kindred Hospice as a Hospice Nurse.

Through his life’s work, Joel was blessed to find himself fulfilled and successfully built a life dedicated to serving others. What began as a volunteer position at a local fire department in Oldham County, Kentucky, quickly developed into a lifelong passion. Throughout his life, Joel worked in various positions in local hospitals from emergency rooms to clinics, and all that encountered him knew him as a gentle giant with a heart of gold. He was always giving of himself and found ways to make everyone who came in contact with him know they had made a friend for life.

Joel was as comfortable in his cowboy boots and hat as he was in his scrubs. In each role, he was still “Joel” and this was a comfort to all who knew him. In the final months of his life, Joel was blessed to find his true calling as he worked as a Hospice Nurse with Kindred Hospice. After walking through the hospice experience earlier in life with his paternal grandmother, Joel not only had clinical experiences, but life experiences that made this position so much more than a job. His heart was bigger than most, as was his smile, and he brought calm and comfort to those he served from the moment he arrived. Through this work, Joel continued to serve others, as well as their loved ones in comfort and guidance as they transitioned through the grieving and death experience. Giving of himself each and every day, until our God called him home.

Joel is survived by his parents, Joel and Jane Thompson of Trafalgar, Indiana; his sister, Jennifer Thompson Gray of Fernandina Beach, Florida; and his children, Tannor Thompson and Taylor Thompson of Richmond, Kentucky.

He was preceded in death by his son, Tylor Thompson; maternal grandparents, Thurmon Lee Stogner and Mary Margaret “Miss Peggy” Stogner; and paternal grandparents, Joel Edward “Tommy” Thompson and Myrtle Kameka “Butch” Thompson.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Manning First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Phillip Reynolds officiating. Burial will be private.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Heritage Room of Manning First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Kindred Gentiva Hospice Foundation, 3350 Riverwood Parkway SE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30339.

The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and comfort during this difficult time.

Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church Street, Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org