Jack Adelbert Thomsen

Jack Adelbert Thomsen was born January 11, 1933, to Joseph Delbert Thomsen and Virginia Rebecca Phelan Thomsen.

Jack was the second oldest of 5 siblings: Gayla, (Jack), Shirley, Ron, and Steven. Jack’s family moved to Glenns Ferry, Idaho where his dad farmed and sold produce. Jack was expected to help on the farm, but was not very enthusiastic about it. However, through this adventure he learned hard work and responsibility.

Jack was very athletic and participated in sports in high school. He played football and basketball and excelled in track. He set a track record for running the mile at Glenns Ferry High School that stayed a record for many years after he graduated. However, his wife claims to this day that she could run faster than he could. Jack was voted Student Body President, a position he filled reluctantly due to his loathing of public speaking. He toughed it out and led his school with pride.

Before Jack graduated from high school, he was hired by the Union Pacific Railroad. He was excited to ride the train and have amazing adventures, but this would have to wait. Knowing there was a good chance he may be drafted, Jack and his friends enlisted in the Navy. Jack hoped this would mean exciting adventures being assigned to a ship. Instead, he was initially assigned to the Naval Hospital as a corpsman. He was eventually assigned to the Bon Homme Richard, one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. Jack’s journey on the Bon Homme went from the shore, around the inlet and returned. So much for seeing the world!

While in the Navy, Jack married the love of his life, Mildred Davy, on February 23, 1954. Later that year, their first child, Janet, was born at the Naval Hospital in San Diego California. Her birth cost a whopping $8.00. Sixteen months later, their son Davy was born at the Air Force Base in Mountain Home, Idaho. His birth cost them $8.50. Jack and Millie decided they had one of each kind, so they stopped there.

When Jack was discharged from the Navy, his little family moved back to Glenns Ferry, Idaho. Jack resumed his job for Union Pacific Railroad, where he worked as a Conductor/Brakeman. Jack LOVED working for UPRR no matter if it was on the freight trains or the passenger trains.

Jack and the family moved to Pocatello in 1959 where they built a home and settled down. Jack would work the trains from Pocatello to Green River, Montpelier, and Nampa. During his railroad years he was President of the UPRR Old Timers, a position both Jack and Millie would thoroughly enjoy. They made many friends, several of whom they traveled with. He retired from the railroad after 42 years.

Jack and Millie were inseparable and loved to travel every chance they had. They traveled from Pocatello to Island Park, Arizona, Canada, Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Hawaii, the Panama Cannel, and East to see family, and they loved every minute of it. Spending winters in Casa Grande, Arizona, became their second home.

Jack loved fishing, hunting and golf, but most of all, time with his family. There were always big dinners during the holidays at their home with aunts, uncles, and cousins joining the group. Jack and his brother-in-law Jim, would without fail, overeat, and fall asleep on the couch. But the best was watching Jack watch a football game, where he would run across the floor like he was chasing the ball. On Christmas Eve, Jack and Jim would play with Davy’s toys and run out batteries, before Davy even had a chance to play with them.

Jack and Millie had many adventures, but their most life changing experience was when they found Jesus and were baptized at Pocatello Bible Church. They heard the truth of salvation, redemption, and forgiveness which comes from believing and receiving a personal relationship with Jesus. Hearing Jack pray and speak God’s truth for the first time over his family was a beautiful and emotional moment. From that day forward, until his illness, he always prayed and loved the truth in the Word.

After a long illness, on the 9th of October 2022, at 9:14 p.m., Jack went Home. We celebrate knowing he is no longer in his broken body, free of pain, and full of unfathomable joy, peace and freedom. For those of us left behind, we know where he is and that we will someday see him again. He was our hero, the gentle giant who stood by us, loved us, and sacrificed for us. He was the true example of a husband, dad, uncle, brother, and friend.

Jack is proceeded in death by his mother, Virginia Thomsen, his father, Del Thomsen and sister, Gayla Sanford. He is survived by his beautiful sweetheart of 71 years, 68 years married, Mildred Thomsen; his children Janet (Hal) Wright and Davy (Lori) Thomsen; grandchildren: Amy (Eric) Meyers, Lyndsay Jackson, Dana Zahorka, Rachel Shine, and Emily (Clay) Yerrington; as well as numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews that he considered to be as special as his own children.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Wilks Funeral Home, with a viewing beginning one hour prior to the services.  Interment will follow on Monday, October 17, 2022 at Glenn Rest Cemetery in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. 

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