Tribute

God is welcoming home His good and faithful servant.

Castle Iler Thompson, of Chilliwack, B.C., went to be with the Lord on August 16, 2020 at the age of 87.  He was born to parents Marvin and Ora Thompson, on May 20, 1933 in Drexel, Missouri.  Castle was raised in Shawnee, Kansas and it was there that he met Mary Joanne Trewett at the age of 17.  They fell in love and were married in 1954.

Castle loved going to his Grandpa Gar’s farm when he was a young boy and would often follow his grandpa around as he did his chores.  As he grew older he joined the FFA (Future Farmers of America) and was planning on raising Angus cattle.  However, God had a different plan for his life.  Abandoning his love of cattle, he followed God’s call to the ministry.  With Joanne by his side he attended Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta.  After Bible School he and Joanne became a part of Village Missions, which became his lifelong work.  Village Missions is a nondenominational organization that sends pastors out to rural communities who are seeking leadership. Castle, Joanne, and their three young children served in churches in northern California, Kansas, and Colorado in the USA, and then immigrating to British Columbia in 1970 they served in Dawson Creek, Kaslo, Whonnock, and Gabriola Island before becoming a representative and traveling to various Village Missions Churches.  Castle loved the “church planting” stage and would stay in an area for 3 or 4 years.  Once the new little church was established he would move on to another area desiring a pastor.

In 2011 his wife, Joanne, went to be with the Lord after 57 years of marriage.  Castle found new life and new love when he met Gerri, a lovely lady from his church.  Castle and Gerri were married in 2014 and have enjoyed 6 wonderful years together before the Lord called him home.

Castle has touched many lives and will be sorely missed.  He is best known for his loving and kind nature.  He was a good sport, a good listener, and had a wonderful sense of humour.  He loved people and he loved God.  He lived his life true to the words that he spoke from the pulpit.

Castle is survived by his wife Gerri, his children Janice (Randy) Strid, Mark (Sherry) Thompson, Steve (Jeanette) Thompson, his 8 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by his brother Carlyle (Sandra) Thompson, his aunt Lois Flinn, and many nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by his parents Marvin and Ora Thompson, and first wife Joanne Thompson.

A celebration of his life will be held on Monday, August 24, 2020, at 10:30 A.M.  at Vedder View Gardens in Chilliwack.  Regrettably, the service will be by invitation only due to Covid 19 guidelines.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Village Missions of Canada (www.villagemissions.ca)

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and in this we celebrate with our beloved Castle.