Johnie Eugene Thompson

Johnie Eugene Thompson, 83, was surrounded by family as he passed away May 11, 2023 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise, after a short battle with dementia.
Johnie was born August 31, 1939 in Emmett, Idaho, to Johnie Edgar and Bernice Isabelle Godard Thompson. He was followed three years later by a sister, Jo Ann. In March 1949, the family moved to Boise, where Johnie spent the rest of his life.
The family was introduced to the Presbyterian Church in Emmett by Johnie’s babysitter; in May 1944, the entire family was baptized and became lifelong Presbyterians. In Boise, Johnie was a Cub Scout with his mother as den mother, and then joined the Presbyterian church Boy Scout troop. He progressed to Sea Explorer Scout and later joined the U.S. Naval Reserves.
He attended Wardwell Elementary School in Emmett through fourth grade. He finished grade school at Whitney Elementary, attended South Junior High, and graduated from Boise High in 1957, majoring in auto mechanics. Following high school graduation, he went on active duty with the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (Sea Bees). After basic training in San Diego, he served six months in Adak, Alaska, and the rest of his deployment in Guam. He continued to serve in the Navy Reserves after returning to Boise.
In 1960, he married Sharon Ann VanFossen, and they had three children, Shelley Katherine, born in 1961; Johnie Earl “Guy”, 1962; and Jeffrey Lyman, 1974.
Johnie was working on motorcycles and vintage automobiles before he was old enough to drive. Wherever he lived, his yard and driveway were littered with car parts and non-working vehicles. His early love of motorcycles morphed into racing and riding dirt bikes. He won many trophies to attest to his expertise. He and a group of friends took many trips on their bikes into desert areas; a few years ago, they took a bike tour of Colorado where his maternal grandparents came from.
His work life began as a teenager at Lyle Hoppe’s drug store at the corner of Overland and Vista. When he returned to Boise after his Navy service, he worked on construction of the missile silos on the Bruneau Desert.
His long career in the parts business included parts manager at Peterson Motors and concluded at Lithia Ford Lincoln of Boise. While working at Peterson Motors, he won a trip from BMW to Germany (Bavaria) for himself and Sharon.
Always interested in education, Johnie attended night classes at Boise State University for years, accumulating hundreds of credit hours although he never applied for a degree. He had many interests that he researched extensively and had a fantastic memory. Special interests, in addition to anything with wheels and a motor, included history, especially Idaho history, and all genres of music and musicians. Among many others, his favorites were Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Elton John, Johnny Cash, Allison Krauss, and Curt Stigers. He spent many weekends on the back roads of Idaho, visiting ghost towns and little-known points. He and Sharon took many road trips out of state.
For many years in retirement, Johnie met for Friday morning breakfast with a group of cronies and their partners. Everywhere he went and everywhere he worked, he made a host of friends among co-workers, customers, and other travelers.
Johnie is survived by his wife, Sharon; daughter, Shelley Thompson, Boise; sons, Guy Thompson, Nampa, and Jeff Thompson, Boise; grandchildren Jessie (C.J.) Tucker of Tom Bean, Texas; Chaz Fowler, Aubree Thompson (Kevin Morand), L.J. Thompson, and Lily Thompson, all of Boise; great-grandchildren Hannah Nester, Sammy Nester, and Harleigh Tucker in Texas; Ava, Alizeh, and Alliya Freeland, and Asher Morand, all of Boise; sister, Jo Ann “Jo” Thompson Parris, Pocatello; brother-in-law, Dick VanFossen, Boise; nephews, nieces, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Rachel Elizabeth Fowler.
Viewing will be at Cloverdale Funeral Home at a time and date to be announced. Service and burial will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise, also to be announced. Following the service, a celebration of life will be held at Shelley Thompson’s home, 8055 West Prince.