Phillip J Thompson

Phillip John “P.J.” Thompson, 91, of Oshkosh passed away on Thursday, January 6, 2022. He was born November 5, 1930, in Dodgeville, WI, the youngest of Perry E. and Evelyn (Schuland) Thompson’s five children.
He attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Platteville State Teachers College (now UW-Platteville), and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He majored in math, physics, and chemistry, and attended UW-Madison on a National Science Foundation grant. He taught for a year at Patch Grove High School, served two years in the U.S. Army (in the U.S. Army Band), taught two years at UW-Platteville, and then spent 32 years working at the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh: 22 years in the math department and 10 years in administration. He was also president of a family road construction business for 10 years.
PJ enjoyed spending time with friends and family at the family cottage in Phillips, Wisconsin. He also enjoyed a variety of sports and card games, among many other interests. He was proud of having pitched a no hitter, getting more than one hole-in-one, making 7 No Trump bid in bridge, and catching a legal musky. As a lifelong mathematician he regretted never solving Fermat’s last theorem.
P.J. is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sharon; his daughters, Lesley Thompson, Alaska Elizabeth (Loal) King, Oregon; and his stepsons, Scott (Wendy Hocking) Neitzel, Neenah, and David (Jessica) Neitzel, Minnesota. He is further survived by his grandchildren: Phillip (Darshae) King and Reagan (Toni) King, all of Oregon; Eric Neitzel, Florida, and Nick Neitzel, Colorado; Keenan (Tiegen) Brickson, Florida, Phalen (Nick) Murza, Hunter Neitzel, Lauren Eastling, Isabell Houchins and Katherine Neitzel, all of Minnesota, and Sam Houchins. Great-grandchildren: Claire Heikkila, Evelyn Eastling, Isla Mae Brickson, and Kurtis Phillip John King.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Phillip John, Jr.; brothers Joe D., Edward J., and George, and his sister, Phyllis (Homer) Schaack and his former wife, Joan, mother of his three children.
According to PJ’s wishes there will be no visitation. A private service has taken place.