Kenneth Thompson

Kenneth E. Thompson, born in Lincoln, Illinois, October 30, 1932 to Harry and Ola Thompson passed away peacefully at home on March 25, 2011.
Ken is survived by his cherished wife of 56 years, Nancy (Tesh), three sons, Jeff, Greg (Stephanie) and Corby (Julie) and a daughter, Jill (Michael) Briggs. Preceded in death by brothers, Wayne and Paul, he is survived by sisters Ruby Paice, Las Vegas, Nevada and Viola McNally, Sacramento, CA.
Raised in a humble two bedroom home, Ken volunteered for the Army and served his country in the 76th Engineer Constructions Battalion during the Korean War. Owing to the guidance of a benevolent sergeant, Ken returned from overseas bent on pursuing a college degree. He married Nancy, began a family and enrolled in Tri-State University as it was "the only place that would have me". With his GI benefits running out, Ken finished a Civil Engineering degree in three years, while providing for his wife and three sons by milking and wrestling unsympathetic cows every day at 4:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
With degree in hand and a daughter on the way, Ken began his career with Paul Cripe. His common sense and engineering skills soon opened many doors. Ken worked for Milton Feinberg, developing many projects before heading off on his own with then partner Tom Schutz to form Schutz and Thompson. From an airplane over what was then the far north side of Indianapolis, Ken recognized the low area that would become the lake at Woodland Springs. Moving on, the pair developed the Woodlands, the Eden projects, and many other Carmel landmarks. In 1978, Indiana National Bank asked Ken to come across the White River and assist with a large, struggling real estate venture in the little Town of Fishers.
As a labor of love, Ken made sure that recreational areas, churches, municipal facilities and adequate infrastructure were incorporated into the development of the Town. Many flood prone areas in "Mudsock" were relieved with his guidance. The land that is now Holland Park and Harrison Park were his donations. When Town funds were not available to acquire the land that is now the Thomas A. Weaver Municipal Complex, Ken borrowed the funds, purchased and held the land at a loss as Councilor Roy Holland chuckled to his friend, "we don't have the money to pay you interest". Likewise, when Town funds were not available and no other land owners would participate, Ken founded Hamilton Southeastern Utilities in order to serve the areas east of State Road 37 with sanitary sewers. Ken enjoyed seeing thousands of diverse families welcomed to Fishers in great communities such as Sunblest, River Glen, River Highlands, Fawnsbrook Woods, Harrison Park, Weaver Woods, Sweet Briar, etc
Never seeking recognition, Ken received the First Key to the Town of Fishers presented by his friends Walt Kelly and Gaye Cordell. Ken loved a practical joke and made sure, first and foremost, that everyone shared a good time. Ever humble, he only needed enough money in his pocket to buy lunch, which very few if any were ever allowed to reciprocate. He never turned down a donation request or a friend who needed help. He never expected anything in return. Those were the days, when golf was played with the headlights of cars on the old Sunblest course, those were his days.
Ken is also survived by ten grandchildren: Emma (Dan) Bowman, Megan (Mike) Pratt and their daughter Camryn, Zachary, Sam and Abby (children of Jeff); Corby, Rachel and Jake (children of Greg and Stephanie); Cole and Cooper (children of Corby and Julie).
Calling will be held at Randall & Roberts Fishers Mortuary, 12010 Allisonville Road in Fishers on Sunday, March 27 from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at East 91st Street Christian Church, Monday, March 28, at 11:00 AM, with internment following at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to East 91st Street Christian Church Building Fund.