Marian LaVerne Thompson

Marian was born on January 16, 1939, at her family home in Chassell. She was the daughter of Ingrid Maria Jarvi (nee Jaskala) and Waino Jarvi. She attended school in Chassell, and graduated in 1957.

In her teenage years Marian worked at her family’s strawberry farm. She was a candidate for the Strawberry Queen Competition for the Chassell Strawberry Festival. In 1956, Marian was also a candidate for Potato Queen at Michigan Tech.

Marian raised her children (with her first husband, David J. Brabank) in Ontonagon, where she resided from 1959 to 1978. She worked at the Ontonagon court house in the office of county clerk and register of deeds.

After re-marrying and moving to California, Marian spent 30 years working in the dental industry as an office manager. She enjoyed her career in dentistry, and particularly loved getting to know the patients.

She and her husband moved to St. Louis to be near her eldest daughter and family in 1995, where Marian continued to work in the dental field. She enjoyed her job so much that she chose to work until the age of 72, at which time she finally (and reluctantly) retired.

Marian enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking, sewing and shopping. She welcomed a conversation with anyone, and people often opened up to her and shared all kinds of things about their lives with her- even complete strangers. She was always interested in politics, and followed local and world news closely. Marian was extremely proud of her Finnish heritage, and enjoyed living by the water. The most important thing to Marian was her family, and she especially enjoyed spending time with them.

Preceding her in death are her grandparents, Oscar and Tekla Jarvi, William and Hilma Jaskela; her parents, Ingrid Marie Jarvi and Waino Jarvi; her brother, Richard Jarvi; her brother, Rudy Jarvi; and son-in-law, Peter Plutchak.

Marian is survived by her loving husband, James Thompson; daughter, Cheryl Plutchak; son, Kevin Brabank; daughter, Tracy Feno; her step-children, Tim and Heather Thompson; as well as her son-in-law, Chris Feno and daughter-in-law Renata Brabank. She is also survived by her sister, Lillian Jarvi; her sister-in-law, Donna Jarvi; grandchildren, Rochelle Plutchak-Hickman, Chad Plutchak, Lindsay Brabank, Andrew Brabank, Jordan Feno and Ford Brabank; and also her great grandchildren, Brevin and Logan Hickman.

Immediate family and friends will gather in the Upper Peninsula at a later date to lay Marian to rest. It was Marian’s wish to be buried at the Maple Grove Cemetery near her son-in-law, the late Peter Plutchak of Mass City.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The American Brain Foundation which you can find here: https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org.

Marian lived the last four years of her life with vascular dementia. The family would like to honor her by receiving donations in her name.