Eileen Thompson

Eileen Thompson , 85, of Sidney passed away on Sunday evening, January 15th, 2023 at SRNC Regional West Extended Care in Sidney, where she was called to her heavenly home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Patrick’s Church on Friday, January 20th at 10:00 A.M. with Father Lou Nollette officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery.

The funeral service will be streamed live via the Holecheck-Bondegard Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/hbfunerals) and available to watch after the service.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 P.M. on Thursday, January 19th at Saint Patrick’s church following with a rosary service to begin at 6 P.M.

Memorials in Eileen’s name can be made to the family for later designation.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh and Chappell is serving the Thompson family.

Eileen M. Amateis was born in Broadwater, Nebraska on February 17, 1937 , to John and Marguerite Amateis. She was an only child. She was raised on a farm in Broadwater and attended school in Broadwater where she graduated in 1954. She met the love of her life, Neal Thompson, on a blind date when she was 15. Following high school, she married Neal Thompson. Together, they lived happily on a farm in Dalton and then moved to Sidney, NE. She drove to Bridgeport from Sidney to work at the Irrigation Office as the head secretary. Then, she proceeded to work for Madsen’s Radio and TV and Safeway.

After that, she became the head bookkeeper for Conoco Station, Daylight Donuts, and Dairy Queen all which were successful businesses she and her husband owned. After selling the Dairy Queen, Eileen became the head bookkeeper for her daughter’s business, A Head of Time Hair Salon, for 31 years.

Eileen had a wonderful childhood and loved the outdoors. She spoke often of her memories racing her horse bareback. Her mother was an extraordinary cook and Eileen loved eating a whole pie with her dad. As a child, she loved swimming in her stock tanks, fishing, playing with her cousins, and was a real animal lover who would try sneaking her goat into her room to sleep at night.

Later on as a wife and mother, Eileen continued to love life! She was very involved with her children being successful in life and was an Italian warrior making sure nobody had hurt them!  You did not dare cross that line!! She loved supporting her husband, aka “Toad”, in all of his successful business endeavors. She is remembered for rolling the tortillas at the Dairy Queen for Taco Thursday which was a fond memory of people in the community! She had a passion for planting flowers, proudly showing her children, and decorating her home. She loved antique shopping and fashion. She looked forward to going to hair show’s with her talented daughter, Jolene Deer, and spending time with her in the work environment. She was an empathetic asset to her daughter’s business by being personable with her customers and counseling them in love as they confided in her. Many admired and will remember her kindness and love she displayed. When somebody in the community speaks of Eileen it is always about her beauty and kindness. She was a shining light and loved by so many. There are fond memories of her going to Dallas, Texas to watch some of her daughter, Julie Thompson’s, modeling shoots and who is now an elementary teacher. She was a proud mother and loved when her son, John, a skilled carpenter, would make her benches and birdhouses for her house. Eileen passed on her green thumb, homemaker, and bookkeeping skills to her talented daughter, Jacqueline Wieser.

After she retired from A Head of Time, Eileen spent her remaining years at home with Toad. She was inseparable from her husband of 67 years. Together, her children referred to them as the “Notebook”. Neal was Eileen’s caregiver for her remaining years at home with some health ailments that progressed. Their remaining years were spent right next to each other watching their favorite westerns and enjoying family visits. She was known for her famous, “Ai yai ya” comment that has been passed down even to her grandchildren. Another famous quote was, “Doesn’t get any better than that” referring to her Italian heritage. Eileen was one tough Italian beautiful soul admired for her strength and dignity. She was a strong family woman and set amazing standards for her family of how unconditional love and unity looked. Mee Maw, Granny, Mama Cieta, words cannot describe how immensely she will be missed by all!

Eileen is survived by her husband, Neal Thompson, of Sidney, NE., children John Thompson and fiance Beverly Rickard of Sidney, Jacqueline and her husband John Wieser of Sidney, Julie Thompson and her fiance Scot Holcomb of Mesa, Arizona, and Jolene and her husband, John Deer, of Sidney. She had 11 grandchildren including Maria and husband Paul Gillham of Sidney, Jimmy and Melaney Wieser of Sidney , Amelia and Trevor Schuessler of Sidney, Ashley Thompson of Denver, CO, Anthony Isaka of Lincoln, NE, Naomi and husband Jake Bargen of Lincoln, Taylor O’Connell of Lincoln, Garrett Deer of Lincoln, Mitch Deer of Sidney, Autumn Arnett of Sidney, and Angelea Arnett of Lincoln, NE. She is also survived by 8 precious great grandchildren including Owen, William, Benjamin and Evelyn Gillham of Sidney, Eva Schuessler of Sidney, Farrah Wieser of Sidney, and Olivia and Harper Grimm of Denver.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Marguerite Amateis.