Margaret "Peggy" Elizabeth Thompson MD

Margaret “Peggy” Elizabeth Thompson, MD of Grand Rapids MI passed away in her home on September 24, 2022 at the young age of 63 years, surrounded by her loving family following a two-and-a-half year journey with cancer. We are assured she is in the presence of God where all suffering ceases. Surviving Peggy is her loving husband David E Thompson, MD, their two daughters Margaret “Sarah” Thompson of Grand Rapids, MI and Stephanie Ruth Thompson, RN of Ann Arbor, MI, her brother John Towsley Riecker (Cindy Brittain), of Salado, TX, her uncle Frederick “Ted” Riecker (Doris) of Denver, CO, two aunts: Lynn Towsley White (Stuart) of Grand Rapids, MI (formerly McLean, VA) and Judy Dow Rumelhart (Don) of Ann Arbor MI, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents John E. Riecker and Margaret Ann “Ranny” Riecker of Midland MI, and two aunts: Janis Towsley Poteat of Paoli, PA and Harriet Susan Wyland of McLean VA. Peggy was born April 30, 1959 in Midland, MI, attended grade school in Midland, then graduated from Culver Girls Academy in Culver, IN (1977), Northwestern University (Alpha Phi Sorority) (1981), and The University of Michigan Medical School (1985) where she and David met. They were wed in 1986. Following Family Practice residency in Burlington, VT (1989), she and David started their family then moved to Grand Rapids, MI in 1990 where she began practice at Family Care, PC. She also volunteered at Heartside Clinic serving the homeless population in Grand Rapids. She found her calling to be in medical education and to that end had her first teaching appointment with the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in 1992 in the Department of Family Practice, advancing to Associate Professor of Family Practice. As time went on, she moved into administrative roles within the College culminating as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, a position she held for about seven years until she retired from the College in 2021. She played an integral part in designing the educational spaces in the Secchia Center. She worked diligently on curriculum development, developing and enhancing professionalism within the medical students, and developing educational liaisons between other medical disciplines such as nursing and physician assistants. She co-authored numerous medical articles and presentations regarding medical education, and co-authored a chapter on nutrition in a leading Family Practice textbook. She received Outstanding Faculty awards and was a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She was respected and well liked by her many colleagues at CHM. Indeed, during her illness she encountered several former students who became her physicians and she was proud of each one. Peggy was generous with her time to improve the lives of others and to promote institutions valuable to her. Among these were various leadership roles at First United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, MI including development of the Legacy Program for planned giving and chairing the Leadership Council. She participated in congregational care. The church was an important part of her life and she was faithful in many ways. She served as a trustee of the Culver Educational Foundation (supporting the Culver Academies, Culver, IN), later becoming a vice-president and Secretary, from 1995 until her death. She was trustee and later president of the Clark Retirement Community in Grand Rapids, MI from 2004-2015, served on the board of the Grand Rapids Symphony from 2003-2012, was a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan from 2016-2022, and a board member of Mid Michigan Health, Midland Medical Center. Peggy served diligently on philanthropic foundations established by her great grandparents and grandparents to benefit the citizens of Midland and greater Michigan: The Herbert H and Grace A Dow Foundation from 1999 as trustee then secretary until her death and The Harry A and Margaret D Towsley Foundation as trustee then secretary, until her death. Peggy placed an emphasis on physical and spiritual fitness. She loved being with family, hiking in the woods, sunrises, reading all variety of books, travel, and University of Michigan sports. She wore Northwestern tee shirts with pride. Those of us fortunate to know Peggy experienced her strong integrity, determination, resilience, patience, grace and faith, and her calm demeanor, all virtues she brought to bear as colleague, mother, and wife. We are saddened that she passed when she had so much more to give. She is greatly missed. The family is grateful for the compassionate and professional care given to Peggy by the staff at Lemmen-Holton Cancer Center, Spectrum Health, her medical oncologist, and the staff at Faith Hospice. Visitation will be at Metcalf and Jonkhoff Funeral Home Thursday, September 29, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A Memorial service for all who knew Peggy will be held at First United Methodist Church, 207 East Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI on Friday September 30 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior to service time.  Memorial contributions may be made to: Culver Educational Foundation Attn: Richard Tompos 1300 Academy Road, #153 Culver, IN 46511-1234 The Regents of The University of Michigan 3003 South State Street, Suite 8000 Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1276 Re: The Margaret E and David E Thompson Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Fund #798670 The Margaret Riecker Thompson Scholarship Fund alphaphifoundation.org (is awarded to members of the Northwestern University Chapter of Alpha Phi to defray college expense; Peggy was president of the chapter her senior year) First United Methodist Church 207 East Fulton Street Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margaret "Peggy" Elizabeth Thompson MD, please visit our floral store.