Kelsey Karmadel Thompson

Born on Thanksgiving, November 26, 1997

Gone to be with the Lord on November 18, 2013

Kelsey was a beautiful, competitive, joyful child and a Blessing to her family. She found something to be happy and excited about every day. Her life, while tragically short, was a wonderful adventure that she shared with all of us. She was an honors student, and a gifted athlete. She was a talented artist who loved to paint, draw and create. Kelsey was an outstanding athlete who thrived on competition and her passion for sports was always a central focus in her life. She helped her high school varsity girls Cross Country team go to the state competition in November, 2013. She was part of their winning team, taking District and Regional Championships. She ran First Team OCC two years in a row and ran on the Varsity team as a Freshman and Sophomore. She was the Freshman runner of the year. Prior to taking up running, Kelsey played travel soccer for many years. She played for the Freedom and Crew clubs as a starter her entire career. She was fiercely competitive and her Crew 3 V3 team won the National Championship in Florida, receiving a commendation at the Ohio State House. Her room is covered in trophies, medals and academic awards. Kelsey enjoyed the Gifted and Talented program and being challenged in the honors and AP classes in high school. She was selected for Northwestern University’s Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) while in middle school. Kelsey was lovely, healthy, funny, mischievous and compassionate. She loved to vacation with her family, explore new places, learn new things, and enjoyed eating as much as cooking. She and her sister Wesley were inseparable and best friends. Kelsey was an irreplaceable treasure and part of her close knit-devoted family.

Kelsey was preceded in death by her doting maternal grandfather, Frederick Grodhaus; her uncle, Carlos Casado; her great-great uncle and aunt, Kenneth and Ruth Laird. Kelsey is survived by her parents Glenn and Jessie (Grodhaus) Thompson; sister Wesley Arden Thompson; aunt Kathleen Thompson Casado; uncle Carl Lambert; grandparents Robert and Barbara (Cox) Thompson; grandmother Iris (Smith) Grodhaus; cousins Ashley (Lambert) De laGarza and Shawn Lambert, along with a large, loving extended family of aunts, uncles and many cousins.