Laura Jane Thompson

Laura Jane Thompson, born on October 26, 1961, in Mason City, Iowa, passed away on March 4, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa, after complications from sarcoidosis. Raised in Clear Lake, she later made her home in the Des Moines area, where she built a life defined by dedication, warmth, and quiet generosity.

Laura spent more than twenty-one years at Kemin Industries, beginning as a cost accountant and advancing to the role of ERP Business Processes IT Manager, where she led an international team. She embraced the challenges of her work and formed deep, lasting bonds with her colleagues that felt like family.

Beyond her professional life, Laura was known for her humor, warmth, and compassion. She found special purpose in adopting senior dogs, offering them comfort and love in honor of her own scrappy rescue, Daisy. She was a devoted and endlessly supportive mother who took great joy in championing her family’s dreams and ambitions. She was also an avid collector of antiques, loved exploring local cuisine, and enjoyed going to the movies, particularly suspense and thriller films.

Laura is survived by her sons, Nigel Thompson (Franci Rodriquez-Rivera) of Waukee and Zach Thompson (Clair Thomas) of West Des Moines; her cherished grandchildren, Dylan and Kaylee Thompson-Rodriguez; and her grand-fur babies, Alpha, Annabel, Murphy, and Jenny, whom she spoiled with affection. She is also survived by her brother, John Schramm; her sister, Susan Weipert; her nephew, Nick Weipert; her nieces, Julia Clay and Katy Weipert; her grandniece, Erica Duffy; and many extended family members and friends whose lives she touched with kindness. She was preceded in death by her parents, Reuben and Jean Schramm.