Carol Noreen (Gaudian) Thompson (1939 -2026)

Carol N. Thompson, age 86, passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Prairie View Home in Sanborn. Her memorial service will be at 11 A.M. on Monday, January 26, 2026, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina with Rev. Donald Meyer, officiating.

Graveside burial service will precede the service at 10:15 A.M. at Prairie View Cemetery in Paullina.

Visitation with family present will be from 4 to 6 P.M. on Sunday, January 25th, 2026, at the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to: Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina or the Paullina Public Library.

Arrangements are under the care of the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina.

IN LOVING MEMORY

CAROL N. THOMPSON

BORN

March 30, 1939

Paullina, Iowa

PASSED AWAY

January 20, 2026

Sanborn, Iowa

MEMORIAL SERVICE

11:00 A.M. Monday, January 26, 2026

Zion Lutheran Church; Paullina, Iowa

Rev. Donald Meyer - Officiating

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS

“Lift High The Cross”

“Asleep In Jesus”

“I Love To Tell The Story”

Organist: Angela Johannsen

CASKET BEARERS

Eliot Jungers 

Tyler Christians

Omar Gomez 

Benjamin Cool

Ashton Thompson 

John Jungers

Patrick Livermore 

Cameron Bible

FINAL RESTING PLACE

10:15 A.M. Monday, January 26, 2026

Prairie View Cemetery

Paullina, Iowa

After today’s graveside service, relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to:

Zion Lutheran Church or Paullina Public Library.

Arrangements are under the care of the

Eldridge Family Funeral Home; Paullina, Iowa.

Carol N. Thompson

Carol was born March 30,1939, at her family home in Paullina, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Olga (Tesch) Gaudian. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Zion Lutheran Church. She grew up in the Paullina area and attended Zion Lutheran School through eighth grade and then Paullina High School, graduating in 1956. She was a baton twirler and editor of the PHS annual yearbook.

Following high school, Carol attended Ellis Beauty School in Sioux City. After graduating in 1957, she owned and operated Carol’s Beauty Shoppe in Aurelia, Iowa for six years. She enjoyed working for herself and proving to her dad that the cost of beauty school was worth it. Being a child during the Great Depression, she was incredibly grateful and appreciative of life. She was always looking for a sale and very frugal. If it does not have holes in it and it fits, it will be fine, although looking nice and put together was also important to Carol.

On October 20,1963, Carol was united in marriage to Ivan Lynn Thompson. The couple moved into a new home built by her father in Sheldon. Carol worked at the Pin Up Beauty Shop for one year. In 1965, she gave birth to their daughter Noreen Lynn, and four years later in 1969, their son, Michael Jon. The couple lived there until 1983 when they moved to the Thompson Family Farm that Ivan had grown up on northeast of Paullina.

Carol enjoyed the time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Throughout the years she enjoyed writing (daily journals), reading the newspaper and magazines, baking, playing cards and games (NOT Monopoly!). Before her eyesight declined due to macular degeneration, she was a computer junkie playing Solitaire, Hearts, and Pac-man. Her night-owl tendencies put her on a different schedule than the rest of the world. Her sense of humor and wit was quick. Even when she could not hear well, she could get in a one-liner. She enjoyed listening to music like Kenny Rogers, Johnny Mathis, Cher, and Reba McIntire.

Carol is survived by her two children, Noreen (Dale) Christians, of Urbandale, Michael (Nancy) Thompson, of Hospers, sister-in-law Joann Gaudian, six nieces, and four nephews.

Surviving grandchildren are Eliot (Omar Gomez) Jungers, Tyler (Julyn) Christians, Ashton (Shaye) Thompson, Cara (Patrick) Livermore, Emily (Benjamin) Cool, John (Emily) Jungers, and Sierra (Cameron Bible) Thompson.

Surviving great-grandchildren are Callahan and Malachi Jungers, Graeme Christians, Claudia Livermore, and Isaac Cool.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan, parents, Carl and Olga Gaudian, her in-laws, Isaac and Lillie Thompson, sister Violet Reimers, brothers Clarence and Duane Gaudian, brother-in-law Duane Reimers, sister-in-law Esther Gaudian, niece Kristin Gaudian, and nephew Steven Reimers.

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