W. Loren Thomson Obituary (1931 - 2018)

W. Loren Thomson, 86 of Bloomington, passed away at 1:17am on April 13, 2018 at the Sugar Creek Assisted Living Center under hospice care of VITAS. He had been seriously ill for one-and-a-half months. The family would like to thank all of the OSF staff on the 300 medical floor, especially, John, Erick and Dillon. Thanks also to the staff at Sugar Creek, especially Dominique and Crystal, as well as the caring VITAS staff. Loren's service will be held on Monday, May 7, 2018 at 11am at the First United Methodist Church of Normal, 211 N. School Street with Pastor Kathy King-Nobles officiating. Lunch will be served at the church following the service. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 3-6pm at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home Bloomington. Cremation rites were accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Normal. Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home is in charge of arrangements. Loren was born on July 6, 1931 in Bloomington. He is the son of James L. and Virginia M. (Johnson) Thomson. Loren married Judith Johnston December 26, 1974 in Greeley, Colorado. Loren is survived by his wife Judy, Bloomington; his three daughters, Christina J. (David) Wilson, Columbia, MO; Karen A. (Philip) Haberkorn, Las Vegas, NV and Sarah E. (Joshua) Krueger, Normal; eight grandchildren Erin E. (Michael) Barbaro, Columbia, MO; Emily A. (Mathias) Miller, Kingdom City, MO; Megan K. Wilson, Columbia, MO; Peter, Benjamin, Mical and Samuel Haberkorn, Las Vegas, NV and Katherine E. Krueger, Normal and five great grandchildren, Ava and Anthony Barbaro, Sage Miller, Serenity and Hope Haberkorn. He was also a loving step-father to Judy's children, Elizabeth & Brian and step-grandfather to Nicholas, Zachary, William and Benjamin. Also surviving are two nephews, Mitchell Thomson and James Wickline, CA. He is preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, his brother, James O. Thomson and one grandson, Nathaniel Haberkorn. Loren graduated from ISNU's Thomas Metcalf primary school and University High School; University of Illinois; and Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. Loren served overseas in the Korean conflict from 1952-1953, with the 8th Army artillery unit with the rank at discharge of Sergeant First Class. Prior to entering the practice of law, he was employed as a claim adjuster and supervisor of worker's compensation claims for The Travelers Insurance Company, Louisville, Kentucky while he attended law school. He was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1959. He practiced law with his uncle, Chester Thomson, until Chester's death. Later became Senior Partner of Thomson & Weintraub Law Firm. He retired from T&W in 1995. Loren continued to practice law as W. Loren Thomson, P.C. until his final retirement in 2012. He had practiced law in the same building, 105 N. Center Street in Bloomington for over 50 years. In addition to practicing law, Loren was an instructor in the Finance and Law Department, ISU, and a Hearing Officer for ISU Staff Personnel. He was also a Hearing Officer for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. He was a certified Mediator and a certified Arbitrator in the mandatory 11th Circuit Arbitration Program. Loren was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Normal where he was baptized as an infant. He was also a past and present member of the McLean County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Loren was the founder of the local Robert C. Underwood Inns of Court in 1993. He was a member of the Founding Committee, Legal Counsel, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Community Health Care Clinic, Inc. Loren loved to read and travel in his leisure time as well as his many athletic activities and hobbies. He played tennis and jogged and later developed a passion for bicycling with the McLean County Wheelers. He loved to bike the many hills west of his home in Bloomington and later to ride the entire Constitution Trail daily. He rode in an organized Wheelers' ride with his family to celebrate his seventieth birthday, and completed a Century ride (100 miles) in the LaSalle-Peru area and rode from Chicago to Milwaukee in an organized charity ride led by former two-time winner of the Tour de France, Greg Lemond. He loved to sail in Peoria on his own boat, Thekla, named for his paternal grandmother, which he docked at the Ivy Club. But he especially liked to charter sail boats in the Caribbean. He and his father had hunted pheasant and quail in South Dakota when Loren was a boy and he enjoyed continuing the tradition as an adult. He also enjoyed trap and skeet shooting at the Peoria Skeet and Trap Club. Loren loved the Law, being a lawyer and practicing his profession. He was a creative, bright, wise, witty and quiet man who loved his family and his God. He will be forever loved and missed by his family and friends.