- Born on: August 5, 1926
- Departed on: March 13, 2026
- Resided in: Iowa City , IA
Anita Thompson Uphoff
Anita Thompson Uphoff, 99, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away peacefully Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Rehabilitation Center of Lisbon, Iowa, following a brief period of convalescence from a fall. In accordance with her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. A small family ceremony will be conducted at Assumption Cemetery in Wheaton, IL, for interment alongside parents Gus and Betty.
Anita was born to Augustin and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Thompson, immigrants from Newfoundland, Canada, in the Boston, MA, area on August 5, 1926. The family was later completed with the birth of her brother Albert, and they relocated to the Chicago area.
Anita took pride in her schoolwork (she still had all her report cards decades later) and graduated from Downers Grove High School. In 1947 she married fellow Downers Grove HS graduate and World War II veteran Fred R. Uphoff. The couple resided in Aurora, IL, with their four young children prior to moving to Bettendorf, IA. Anita stayed quite busy as a homemaker for her family of six, but still found time for community activities such as Junior Achievement, PTA, Girl Scout leader, and a Board member of the Handicapped Development Center in Davenport, IA. Once the children had grown, and following a divorce, she returned to her studies and attained a business degree from St. Ambrose College and returned to the workforce. Her longest work tenure was with the J. I. Case Company in Bettendorf, where she received several promotions, retiring as a Purchasing Manager from Case in 1983. While at Case she met and became married to Robert Kurtz of Davenport. Anita and Robert enjoyed their retirement together until divorcing in 2009. After post-retirement residences in Fresno, CA, and Kansas City, MO, Anita moved back to the Iowa City area near son Dan in 2004, where she remained the rest of her life.
In retirement Anita enjoyed RV traveling, fishing, spending time with her beloved mother “Betty” and keeping up with the activities of her children as they all progressed through college and successful careers, and gave her six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Anita is survived by brother Al Thompson of Arlington Heights, IL; her children Laurie O’Brien of Denver, CO, Carol Meteyer of Sedona, AZ, Dan Uphoff of Iowa City, IA, and Bob (Ann) Uphoff of Denver, CO; grandchildren Kate (Brad) Shephard of Denver, CO, Claire (Tyler) Smith of Denver, CO, Anna Meteyer of Missoula, MT, Margo Meteyer of Venice, CA, Thomas Uphoff of Iowa City, IA, and Christine Uphoff of Denver, CO; great-grandchildren Meredith, Addison and Rowan Shephard and August, Tucker and Griffin Smith.
Anita was born to Augustin and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Thompson, immigrants from Newfoundland, Canada, in the Boston, MA, area on August 5, 1926. The family was later completed with the birth of her brother Albert, and they relocated to the Chicago area.
Anita took pride in her schoolwork (she still had all her report cards decades later) and graduated from Downers Grove High School. In 1947 she married fellow Downers Grove HS graduate and World War II veteran Fred R. Uphoff. The couple resided in Aurora, IL, with their four young children prior to moving to Bettendorf, IA. Anita stayed quite busy as a homemaker for her family of six, but still found time for community activities such as Junior Achievement, PTA, Girl Scout leader, and a Board member of the Handicapped Development Center in Davenport, IA. Once the children had grown, and following a divorce, she returned to her studies and attained a business degree from St. Ambrose College and returned to the workforce. Her longest work tenure was with the J. I. Case Company in Bettendorf, where she received several promotions, retiring as a Purchasing Manager from Case in 1983. While at Case she met and became married to Robert Kurtz of Davenport. Anita and Robert enjoyed their retirement together until divorcing in 2009. After post-retirement residences in Fresno, CA, and Kansas City, MO, Anita moved back to the Iowa City area near son Dan in 2004, where she remained the rest of her life.
In retirement Anita enjoyed RV traveling, fishing, spending time with her beloved mother “Betty” and keeping up with the activities of her children as they all progressed through college and successful careers, and gave her six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Anita is survived by brother Al Thompson of Arlington Heights, IL; her children Laurie O’Brien of Denver, CO, Carol Meteyer of Sedona, AZ, Dan Uphoff of Iowa City, IA, and Bob (Ann) Uphoff of Denver, CO; grandchildren Kate (Brad) Shephard of Denver, CO, Claire (Tyler) Smith of Denver, CO, Anna Meteyer of Missoula, MT, Margo Meteyer of Venice, CA, Thomas Uphoff of Iowa City, IA, and Christine Uphoff of Denver, CO; great-grandchildren Meredith, Addison and Rowan Shephard and August, Tucker and Griffin Smith.
