Maynard O. Thompson (fondly known as "The Gray Fox"), the son of Tom and Anna (Ludvigson) Thompson, was born February 13, 1925, in Wright County on a farm near Kanawha, Iowa. He graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1943 and then entered the military.

Maynard served during World War II in the US Army from July 14, 1943, to November 12, 1945. He embarked for overseas duty on March 24th, 1944, joining the 300th Maintenance Company in the European Theatre of Operation. Maynard was awarded four bronze Campaign Stars for campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.

After completing his military service, he enrolled in the Eagle Grove Junior College. He worked at D & B Motors for six years, and then became employed at Ellsworth Freight Lines as a comptroller for 33 years.

On June 14, 1955, he was united in marriage to Lucille Wegner in Manning, Iowa. Maynard and his wife Lucille spent their winters in Mesa, Arizona. He was a hunter, fisherman and golfer. He loved being in nature and he loved the world of sports. His greatest joys were his children and his grandchildren.

Maynard was a member of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. He was also a member of Isaac Walton League, the American Legion and the VFW.

Maynard passed away Monday, September 29, 2008, at Rotary Ann Nursing Home in Eagle Grove. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Arnet and LeRoy and a sister, Thelma Jeffries.

Maynard will be greatly missed by his wife Lucille, children, Brent Thompson of Chicago; daughter, Beth Hanna and husband George of Swisher, Iowa, and his grandchildren, Alex and Luke Hanna; two sisters, Hazel Barmore and Lavonne Tierney.

Memorials may be left to the American Stroke Association, Des Moines, Iowa.