Nadine Ruth (Meinecke) Thompson (age 95) Cainsville, MO. Died March 13, 2024.
She lived a long life and lovingly passed away at Saint Luke’s Hospice House, Kansas City, MO. with family at her side.
Nadine was born in Cainsville, MO. August 1, 1928, to Robert Burl Meinecke and Bessie Virginia (Smothers) Meinecke.
She loved the way her parents raised her. We heard many memories of her riding her horse to grade school and high school.
Nadine shared a childhood memory of her father calling her “Kid”. Her dad dropped her off on the first day of school and then ran errands. Nadine did not stay at school, she went home. When her dad got back home he said, “Now kid tomorrow I’m going to take you to school and you are going to have to stay”. He stayed with her the next day until she found out she liked attending school.
Nadine shared with us that the way they knew school was open was they could see smoke rising from the schoolhouse chimney. She would walk to school in her dress with her mom. The snow was as high as the top of the fence posts. They would crawl up one side of the fence and slide down the other side. They had fun.
There were many special family memories created by our parents. Every year we took a two-week family vacation. We camped by tent or pop-up travel trailer. One of the most memorable vacations was being caught in a tornado in Kansas. All of us survived by spending the night in the green Plymouth station wagon.
Nadine attended Cain Elementary School through the 8th grade. Then proceeded to Cainsville RI high school and graduated in 1946.
Nadine helped her Aunt Tessie Smothers as an apprentice in her beauty shop. She worked as a seamstress. Nadine helped with the farming by raising cattle and feeder pigs.
In 1946 she was introduced to Robert Cordle Thompson. This happened while he was home on leave from the Army. Bob fell immediately for Nadine. He asked her to marry him when she graduated from high school. Mom said, “Not yet.” They were married on October 28, 1949. For the first few years, they lived in a small trailer, then moved to their current home in Cainsville, MO. They were married for 50-plus years. Since May 2022 Nadine has been living at Pearls II Eden Home for the Elders in Princeton, MO. She made many friends while there.
Nadine and Bob waited for 6 years to start a family. Their children were Dianna Morehouse, and fiancé Bob Washburn, Cainsville, MO. Norma Thompson, husband John Thompson, Branson, MO. Linda Mattinson, husband Les Mattinson, Cainsville, MO., and Sandra Benak, husband Tom Benak, Cedar Falls, IA.
Nadine was blessed with two wonderful grandchildren. Marissa Mattinson, fiancé Kodie Smith, Cainsville, MO., and Jeremy Mattinson, Athens, Michigan. Nadine enjoyed spending time playing with her grandchildren and especially cooking for them.
Nadine treasured her great-grandchildren. Kyler Vail, Karly Bennett, Karson Bennett, and MacKenzie Bennett of Cainsville MO. She especially enjoyed attending birthday parties, school functions, and easter egg hunts.
Nadine accepted the Lord as her Savior at Cain Christian Church. Re-dedicated her life to the Lord in 1977 at the United Methodist Church, Cainsville, and was water-baptized at Nine Eagles State Park.
Many hobbies kept Nadine busy. Card parties with friends, sewing dresses for her daughters, and making doll clothes, She was an avid reader, especially enjoying keeping up with the news from the Bethany and St. Joe newspapers. Also canning, gardening, cooking, Wheel of Fortune, and the Kansas City Chiefs. Many may remember Mom mowing the yard in her white jungle hat.
Volunteering was something Nadine enjoyed. She helped with the United Methodist Church Lords Acre Day Festival, American Legion Auxiliary, UMC Bible School, and helping with her daughters’ school functions.
Nadine will always be remembered for her love, kindness, graciousness, sense of humor, making everyone feel welcome and beautiful smile.
We could not have asked for a better Mother, Grandma, or Great Grammie. We will miss her every day. Our mother’s memory will remain in our hearts forever.
Nadine was preceded in death by, her mother Bessie Virginia Meinecke, her father Robert Burl Meinecke, and her husband Robert Cordle Thompson.
Visitation will be at the First Christian Church, Cainsville MO. Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Noon.
Celebration of Life Service will be at the First Christian Church, Cainsville, MO. Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 1:00 pm.
Interment will follow the Celebration of Life Service at Zoar Cemetery, Cainsville MO.
Donations can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or a charity of your choice instead of flowers.
