David Allen Thompson

                                                                                              David Allen “Uncie” Thompson

                                                                      Age 84 • October 9, 1941, November 2, 2025 (All Souls’ Day)

A Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00 PM EST on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek, Michigan, USA. Guests are invited to honor his life in true Irish fashion — with stories, music, laughter, and love. Visitation will take place from 2:00 PM EST until the time of the service at the funeral home.

The Life Journey of David Allen Thompson

How does one begin to measure a life so richly lived — to capture in words all that a single soul gave, created, and inspired? To write the story of David Allen “Uncie” Thompson is to recognize that no summary could ever hold the laughter he shared, the lessons he taught, or the love he poured into others.

What follows is but an overview of a remarkable life — one woven through faith, service, and joy. And though there are surely moments and details that memory may have missed, we trust that what cannot be written lives on in the hearts of those who knew him.

Please forgive any omissions; instead, let these words reflect the light of a man whose presence touched every corner of his world — a life that continues to shine through every story, every memory, and every act of kindness done in his name.

And in the Spirit of David Allen “Uncie” Thompson, we shall pontificate.

David Allen Thompson was born on October 9, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, the beloved son of Jerome and Virginia (Hull) Thompson. From a young age, David was drawn to faith, learning, and service. At just 15 years old, he entered the Marianist apostolate in Beacon, New York, marking the beginning of a lifelong spiritual and educational vocation. Soon after, he entered the Marianist novitiate in Marcy, New York, where he took his first vows and became a devoted member of the Society of Mary, a Roman Catholic religious congregation known for its deep commitment to education and community.

David’s early years in the Marianist community reflected both his devotion and his versatility. He continued his studies in Dayton, Ohio, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and in 1965 began his teaching career in Cincinnati, Ohio. He taught at Moeller High School, sharing his gifts across numerous disciplines, including biology, religion, band, and choir, among others. His wide-ranging talents, curiosity, and compassion made him a cherished mentor to generations of students.

His journey next led him to Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where his passion for education deepened even further. There, Brother David served as a Biology, Religion, and choir teacher, as well as band director and hockey coach, mentoring students in both academics and faith and character. Under his direction, the school’s band even recorded a vinyl album titled “Serenade” in 1970, a lively big band collection featuring the popular hits of the day, which continues to bring joy to listeners and stands as a timeless tribute to his love of music and his students’ talent.

While at Hackett, partnering with his brother, Jim Thompson, along with his lovely bride and their six children, Brother Dave often brought his students to the Circle T Ranch, a place where learning went beyond books and classrooms. There, young men discovered the values of hard work, humility, and respect, growing into the fine men they would later become. Many of those same students remained in his life for decades, returning his kindness with their own steadfast friendship and care during his later years. The Circle T Ranch became more than a family farm; it became a living symbol of his legacy, a place where faith, laughter, and love intertwined and continued to grow.

Following his years at Hackett, Brother David pursued his master’s degree at the University of Notre Dame, further enriching both his spiritual and academic life.

In 1976, while serving as a Marianist Brother, David Thompson was missioned by the Marianist Provincial to Africa, traveling to Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia to preach and give retreats for the Marianists serving across the continent. Among them was his beloved brother, Brother Ken Thompson, who had also entered the Marianist community at a young age and continues to serve faithfully to this day. At the time, Brother Ken was teaching at a Marianist high school in Kenya, carrying forward the same devotion to education and faith that marked their shared vocation.

In a remarkable act of faith and family unity, David brought along his father, Jerome Thompson, for the three-month journey. When they arrived in Africa, Jerome remained in Kenya with his son Ken, experiencing firsthand the mission life and hospitality of the Marianist community there. At the same time, David continued his travels across the continent, preaching, teaching, and offering retreats.

Together, though serving in different ways, the three Thompsons, father and sons, united in faith and love shared music, ministry, and hope across continents, strengthening the bonds of community and compassion that defined the Marianist spirit. Their journey left a lasting legacy of service, unity, and faith in action, a living testament to their shared call to serve God through education and love.

Upon returning to the United States, Brother continued his ministry in Marcy, New York, at a Marianist center for faith-filled community experiences. There, he developed the beloved “Family Experiences,” a week-long retreat program that brought parents and children from around the nation together in prayer, reflection, and joyful fellowship.

David affectionately referred to the retreat house as “Bergamo East,” a heartfelt nod to the original Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning in Dayton, Ohio, a Marianist retreat and educational hub situated on the grounds of Mount Saint John, the Marianist headquarters in the United States. Founded in 1967, the Bergamo Center serves as a place of renewal and spiritual growth, dedicated to the Marianist mission of faith, community, and service, and named in honor of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, founder of the Society of Mary.

Through his work at Bergamo East, David carried forward that same Marianist spirit of connection and renewal. The program touched countless households and reflected his deep conviction that faith is strongest when it is lived together in love, connection, and community.

Through every classroom, every parish, every friendship, and every act of kindness, Brother David’s mission never wavered to live with joy, to teach with love, and to serve with a heart open to all. His life remains a testament to the Marianist spirit: faith in action, love in community, and hope carried gently through every season of life.

In 1981, at the age of forty, David discerned a new path. He transitioned from religious life, continuing his mission of teaching, leadership, and service as a lay educator and community servant. His journey led him from Minnesota to Kalamazoo, then to Maine, back again to Kalamazoo, onward to Florida, and finally home once more to Michigan, where he continued to share his humor, wisdom, and unshakable faith.

David’s calling to serve extended far beyond the classroom. In Florida, he volunteered with the American Red Cross in Broward County, offering comfort and aid during Hurricane Wilma, embodying the compassion and courage that defined his life. Back in Michigan, he served as Principal of St. Stanislaus School in Dorr and as Director of Adult Education for the Diocese of Kalamazoo, helping adults strengthen both their academic and spiritual lives. He also worked at The Bishop Company in Kalamazoo, where his professionalism and integrity earned deep respect.

Throughout his life, David’s faith and compassion carried him across the nation and around the world. Whether in schools, churches, or communities in need, he dedicated his life to uplifting others through music, mentorship, and kindness. While in Florida, at the Sylvan Learning Center, he combined his love of education and service along with close friends to create “The Dream Team,” a foundation designed to support student-athletes in their academic studies and provide financial assistance to help them pursue both college and sports. The initiative reflected his lifelong conviction that every young person deserves guidance, opportunities, and the tools to pursue their dreams. Later, he continued to inspire as a professor at Victory Rock Prep Sports Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he mentored young athletes in both academics and life, constantly reminding them that true success begins with heart, discipline, and faith. In every role, David embodied the same unwavering spirit that had guided him since his Marianist beginnings, a life devoted to faith, learning, and love in action. His presence brought light wherever he went, and his legacy continues in the many hearts he inspired to believe, serve, and grow.

In every role, David embodied the same unwavering spirit that had guided him since his Marianist beginnings, a life devoted to faith, learning, and love in action. His presence brought light wherever he went, and his legacy continues in the many hearts he inspired to believe, serve, and grow.

He was also a gifted performer and storyteller throughout his life, bringing parables and lessons to life through his beloved and endearing character, “Pinky.” Through humor, mime, and heart, he shared timeless truths of faith and humanity, touching audiences of all ages and backgrounds. One of his most cherished performances was “The Giving Tree,” which he presented entirely in mime, his expressive storytelling bringing the tale’s message of love and selflessness to life. His performances enlightened, uplifted, and reminded all who watched that joy and faith could be shared not only through words but through the beauty of presence and compassion.

As David did not have children of his own, he poured his love and guidance into the lives of those around him. While serving as a Marianist Brother, he became a Big Brother in the Association, mentoring countless young lads. When he transitioned into civic life, he carried that same calling forward, continuing to advocate for youth and families in Marcy, New York, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and later in Bradenton, Florida.

Well into his 80s, David served as a Guardian ad Litem for children in Florida’s court system, standing beside those who needed protection and care. This role perfectly reflected his lifelong devotion to giving voice to the voiceless and hope to the overlooked, a valid extension of the same compassion, justice, and faith that guided him from his earliest days as a Brother.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dayton and his master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. He later continued his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Certificate in Theological Studies (CTS). His lifelong love of learning shaped his teaching, storytelling, and faith, guiding him to see education not just as a profession but as a sacred calling, one that connected the mind, heart, and spirit in service to others.

“Uncie,” as he was affectionately known, was a dreamer of dreams whose contagious laughter brightened every room. His deep connection to his Irish heritage was reflected in his stories, his treasures, and his generous heart. The Celtic Cross held a special place in his life and faith — not only as a symbol of his ancestry, but as a living reflection of his Marianist vocation.

For David, the interwoven design of the Celtic Cross mirrored the Marianist ideals he lived by: faith, community, and service bound together by love. Just as the circle of the Cross represents eternity and unity, he believed that one’s faith must also be lived in relationship through family, friendship, and joyful service to others. His Irish spirit gave warmth to his Marianist discipline, blending laughter with prayer, compassion with purpose, and storytelling with sacred truth.

He spent many cherished visits in Ireland, where his nephew, family, and friends lovingly dubbed him “Uncie Knight of Ireland.” These visits became unforgettable journeys, retold for generations to come. His love for Ireland was more than cultural; it was spiritual, a reflection of the joy, humility, and faith that defined his life.

He also loved Notre Dame football and Guinness so much that his loving nephew, grand-nephew, family, and friends are creating “Uncie’s Irish Pub” in his honor, a joyful space filled with music, laughter, storytelling, and the spirit of the Emerald Isle. It is a way of bringing a bit of Ireland and Unices Blarney home to everyone he loved and of keeping his spirit alive through fellowship, faith, and song.

In his later years, David faced a brain tumor, aphasia, and Alzheimer’s disease with courage and serenity, never losing the laughter or kindness that defined him. His sense of humor prevailed through every challenge, and he continued to uplift those around him with his wit, faith, and grace. Even as his body weakened, his spirit remained strong, a true knight’s death of grace, lived in dignity, humility, and peace. His strength in adversity was yet another reflection of the faith that guided his every step.

In honor of Uncie’s final wish, his remains will be spread across Ireland, beginning in Glendalough, County Wicklow, his spiritual home, where his heart and laughter will forever echo across the hills.

He often said, “When you care enough to send the very best, send yourself.” And indeed, he did. David gave of himself entirely in every season of his life, bringing joy, faith, and light to all he encountered. His presence was a gift, his laughter a comfort, and his kindness a reflection of the love he carried for those around him.

He was also known for saying, “Who gets that?” a phrase he spoke with wonder and gratitude when reflecting on the blessings of family, friends, and colleagues who filled his life with meaning. To him, those moments of connection were not coincidences, but miracles in motion.

Through his humor, generosity, and faith, Uncie left behind a legacy not measured in possessions, but in the countless lives he touched, a legacy of faith, laughter, and love that continues to shine in all who knew him.

David is survived by his four brothers, James (Kathleen) Thompson, Kenneth Thompson, Richard Thompson, and Donald Thompson, as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerome and Virginia Thompson, and his brother, Timothy Thompson.

Uncie’s Giving Tree Foundation

Instead of flowers, Uncie wished for any donations to go to his foundation, a living extension of his lifelong spirit of generosity and joy.

In the early 1980s, he founded The Magic Rainbow Productions Unlimited, an organization dedicated to helping people of all needs live their dreams. From that joyful beginning blooms Uncie’s Giving Tree Foundation, a renewed vision that continues his mission of compassion, creativity, and connection.

Just as The Giving Tree, his favorite story, teaches that love is measured by what we give of ourselves, the foundation seeks to honor his example: lifting others, nurturing dreams, and spreading kindness in ways both great and small.

No matter how humble the act, every gesture of giving makes a difference, just as Uncie always did.

If you wish to support Uncie’s cause, please contact his loving nephew and Power of Attorney, Richard Kerry Thompson (RKT), at rktuncthompson@gmail.com.

“When you care enough to send the very best — send yourself.” — Uncie

The family would like to thank our relatives and friends for their kind expressions of concern and heartfelt sympathy during this difficult time. The family is grateful to the countless individuals who supported David spiritually and monetarily throughout his life’s journey. May God richly bless every one of you.

                                                                                                          Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.

 May the wind be always at your back.

 May the sun shine warm upon your face,

 And rains fall soft upon your fields. 

And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Please take a moment to sign the Guestbook and share your own story, memory, or reflection of David Allen Thompson, “Uncie.” Your words will help keep his laughter, love, and legacy alive for all who knew and cherished him.

                                                                                                 “Sláinte to Uncie!”