James C. Thomson, Sr., 76, of Utica, passed away Sunday, June 18, 2023 at his home.

Services will be Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Waltham Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Joel Stevenor officiating. Visitation will be Friday, June 30, 2023 from 5-7 p.m. at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota and one hour prior to services at church.

James Charles Thomson was born June 23, 1946 to Charles and Helen (Lucas) Thomson in LaSalle, IL.

He attended Ophir and Waltham Elementary Schools and graduated from LaSalle-Peru Township High School in 1964. He began his enlistment in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1963 while still in high school and was honorably discharged in 1971. He attended the Graham School for Cattlemen in Kansas City after returning home from the U.S. Army Reserves. He married Laurel (Laurie) Lynn Roth of Roscoe, IL February 8, 1970 at the Old Stone Church in Rockton, IL. He was a member of the Waltham Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Illinois Holstein Association, the National Holstein Association, and the Illinois Farm Bureau. He was also a member, past president and past vice-president of the Rock River Holstein Club. During his membership of the LaSalle County D.H.I.A., he had held the positions of president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. He had been a long time member of the Waltham Curling Club.

He is survived by his wife Laurel; sons John (Angela) Thomson of LaSalle and James (Beckie) Thomson of Tonica; grandchildren Katherine Thomson (Michael Leatherman) of Granville, Sgt. Zachary Thomson currently serving in the U.S. Army overseas and Mollie and Haylie Thomson both of Tonica; great grandson Anthony Leatherman of Granville; sisters Mary Jo (Gary) Schmidt of Strafford, MO. and Linda (Stan) Zapf of Spring, TX. and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He lived his early childhood in Triumph until they moved to the family farm in Waltham Township.

Once he returned home from his service in the Army Reserves he became a dedicated dairy farmer, raising and showing registered Holsteins at various county, state, and national dairy shows. It was at the Boone County fair where he met a competitor, who became the love of his life and future wife and who also loved raising and showing dairy cattle. He enjoyed being on the farm and operating it with his grandparents, parents, sisters, wife, sons, and grandchildren and would have loved seeing his great grandson become involved with the family farm.

He was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cubs. The only sport he may have loved more was curling. He was widely known as a very good and a very competitive opponent and a true sportsman of the game. He competed at 4 national curling championships including Chicago, Utica NY, Superior WI. and Duluth MN.

In his later years he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandson and tried to never miss any of their events.

Memorials may be directed to Waltham Presbyterian Church or American Cancer Society.