Dr. Gerald Eugene Thompson, Sr., age 80, passed away on Tuesday December 14, 2021 in Jacksonville. Gerald was born June 26, 1941 to James Merrill Thompson & Mary Louise Schaffer Thompson in Flandreau, South Dakota. After graduating high school Gerald continued his education at many institutions of higher education including:San Diego Junior College, San Diego, CA Undergraduate studies including History and GermanBlack Hills State College Spearfish, SD Undergraduate ChemistryAugutana College, Sioux Falls, SD Undergraduate ChemistryLoyola, New Orleans, LA - MusicSt Olaf College Northfield, MN Conductors SymposiumUniversity of New Orleans BA in MusicState University of SD AB, BS in MedUniversity of South Dakota Graduate School - Master of MusicUniversity of New Orleans - BA Music PerformanceUniversity of South Dakota - BS Basic Medical Sciences, BA Zoological Sciences and then received his Doctorate in Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine in 1971.He spoke 8 different languages, English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Portuguese, elementary Mandarin, and Japanese greetings, being fluent in the first 4 and conversational in 2 of the others.He served over 15 years in the United States Navy, the last 5 as a Medical Officer & Surgeon, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1976.Dr. Thompson came to Jacksonville as an officer in the Navy Medical Corp and after his retirement travelled extensively teaching music and English in China, Thailand and New Zealand among many other places, returning to Jacksonville in 2001 to live out his remaining years.Dr. Thompson was a huge fan of basketball and classical music and enjoyed building his own classical guitars.Dr. Thompson was preceded in death by his parents, his only son, Gerald E. Thompson, II (in March of 2021) and 5 of his 6 siblings, Robert (Bob) Thompson, Francis Slebodnik, Mary Ellen Bogen, Joyce Keith, and Richard Thompson.He is survived by, his daughter & son-in-law, Sharla & Terry Brower of Jacksonville, FL; grandchildren, Kevin Brower of Colorado Springs, CO, Ryan Daugherty (Evelyn Norman) of Jacksonville, FL & Eden Brower of Jacksonville, FL and 3 great grandchildren; his only surviving sibling James (Jim) Thompson, and by many nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family members & friends around the world.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Dr. Thompsons name to The National Music Museum (America's Shrine to Music) of Vermillion, South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, SD 57069, Phone (605) 658-3450.(https://www.nmmusd.org/support-us)Interment with Military Honors will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday January 13, 2022 in Jacksonville National Cemetery.Arrangements are under the direction of George H. Hewell and Son Funeral Home, 4140 University Blvd., S..