Nadine Elizabeth Wareham Thompson, 1941 – 2020. Nadine left this Earth on October 15, 2020 in Springfield, Missouri. Born in Bakersfield, California, Nadine was the oldest of ten children and is survived by daughter Kelly Thompson-Anthony, son Daniel Lloyd Thompson, and granddaughter, Elizabeth Evelyn Anthony. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dale Burnam Thompson. She is lovingly remembered as Nadine, Mrs. Thompson, Schnookums, Mom, Mommy, and Mimi.

Nadine graduated from high school at 16 years of age and completed one semester at San Jose State University. She then attended and graduated from the Famous Beauty College and honed these skills at the J. Magnin department store in Hayward, California.

Nadine met the love of her life, Dale, while living and working in Hayward. After a year long courtship, the two married on May 7, 1961 in the chapel at Moffett Federal Airfield. She wore a satin and lace wedding gown she made herself and carried white roses and a small white wedding Bible. After the ceremony, they drove to Yosemite in Dale’s 1954 MG to honeymoon at the lodge. This special destination became a favorite for the family.

Dale and Nadine continued to live and raise their children in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Nadine was an activist in the fight for the rights of women, indigenous peoples, and the disabled. She was a feminist housewife who educated her daughter in equality by discussing current events at the dinner table and strategically leaving books around the house to be picked up and read. She championed the underdog and fought fearlessly with politicians to bring inclusion to California public schools. Many children were impacted in a positive way by her diligence and uncompromising pursuits.

Nadine took great pride in her family and especially her granddaughter, Elizabeth. As a devoted wife and mother, she took on these roles with vigor and dedication.

Her greatest devotion was to her son Daniel. She navigated the minefields of government bureaucracy to ensure that her son would receive an equal education, independence in living, healthcare, and the daily supports to live a quality life. She was a compass and guide to Daniel and always will be.

Nadine lived a creative life. She was an avid gardener known for ability to grow stunning roses. She sewed clothing for her children creating matching travel and holiday outfits and in collaboration with Dale, elaborate Halloween costumes. After she discovered quilting, Nadine mastered the traditional skills of hand quilting and fell in love with Baltimore Album quilts. She was known for her fine applique and hand quilting. She took great pride in her work as a re-designer at Sunset Designs and enjoyed helping fellow quilters as she worked at the local quilt shoppe, Going to Pieces. She loved her quilt family.

Nadine was an avid reader and loved to learn. She was a teacher in many ways. She shared her sewing skills with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop helping each girl earn her sewing badge and traveled across the Nation teaching quilting and sharing her passion for the art as she lectured for quilt guilds and taught at the International Quilt Festival and Baltimore on the Prairie quilt conferences.

Nadine, Dale, and Daniel moved across the country to Missouri to be an active part of Elizabeth’s life. She encouraged her artistic and educational endeavors and taught her to bake and decorate for the holidays. She introduced Elizabeth to a sewing machine when she was just two years old while they made a small patchwork quilt together passing her love of art onto her granddaughter.

Nadine left her family with a legacy of persistence, devotion, and creativity.

Graveside Services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 4, at Missouri Veterans Cemetery.