In Memory of Caleb George Neale Thompson

Seonghwa

Apr 30

Written By Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Caleb George Neale Thompson

Spouse: Renee Elaine Pearson
Children: Carena Nicole
Birthdate: August 12, 1949
Blessing: July 1, 1982
Ascension: April 20, 2024
Seonghwa Ceremony: May 2, 2024

Caleb was born August 12, 1949, and Christened George Neale. He departed this physical plane on April 20, 2024, after a six-month battle with ill health.

Caleb was born in Milwaukee to Kenworthy James Thompson Jr. and Catherine Jane Ewell Thompson. KJ Sr was a Rhodes Cambridge Scholar in Chemistry. In Ohio, he worked for a company that created cording, nylon, etc. underneath the tire tread, reinforcing the tire so that it did not burn out. KJ Jr graduated from Purdue University and had the highest GPA for many years. He worked for Rex Chain Belt as a works manager.

The Thompson family moved to Fullerton, CA before nursery school through first grade where Caleb learned to swim in the pool in his subdivision and the family would go to Huntington Beach. A memorable incident that led to Caleb becoming a nursery school dropout was when Caleb was playing in the sand box and another child hit Caleb over the head with his shovel. Caleb's Mom was then called in and they spoke with her about Caleb's aggressive behavior. Caleb's mom said, “Excuse me, I understand the other child hit Caleb first. So Neale hit him back. What is wrong with that?” After this incident, she told Caleb, “OK, get your stuff, we are out of here!”

Henceforth, the family moved back to Milwaukee Wisconsin. However, Caleb grew up in the city of Wauwatosa and attended the Wilson Elementary School through sixth grade, and continued to Hawthorne Junior High, graduating from Wauwatosa East High School. Caleb attended Cornell University, graduating with a bachelor's degree. Alan Seher who was a high school and college colleague of Caleb at Cornell, took a bicycle trip through New England with Caleb, and then, not on bikes, the two made their way to California. At the UC Berkeley campus, Caleb met someone in our church who invited him to dinner. Alan wanted to tag along and the two joined the Creative Community Project. At one point Caleb was stabbed in a strange altercation somewhere in Berkeley. He had to go to the hospital and his mother came out to be with him. Recovering from this life-threatening experience, Caleb became a full-time member of Unification Church. In addition to being engaged with construction projects on Camp A, and Camp K, Caleb renovated a bus for nonstop travel from California to bring members to the Yankee Stadium Rally in 1976. Caleb was a great storyteller and everyone who listened to hime would be spellbound when he told them about his daring deeds.

At Madison Square Garden, Caleb and Renee were Blessed in Holy Matrimony in 1982. Renee attended seminary from 1980 -1983 and Caleb from 1983 – 1986. Caleb wrote his thesis on Christian Ministers in Political Office and worked with CAUSA – USA with Mark Clevenger. While Renee worked with CAUSA – International. In 1989, Carena was born and in 1991 the Thompson Family moved to Wisconsin to be closer to Caleb's family. In 1990 Caleb and Renee were both in Moscow at the time of True Parents meeting with President Mikhail Gorbachev. It was while working with Mark Clevenger that Caleb developed a love for Country music. In 2022 he took Renee to a George Strait concert, and Saturday night was heralded as the night for Country, with Austin City Limits.

In Wisconsin, Caleb took a position as Director of the Weatherization Program for Community Action. There, began a never-ending series of programs, innovations, and projects as Caleb worked on groundbreaking efforts to develop solar power for homes to save energy through insulation and better design of homes. Caleb started solar power work in 2001 and eventually became a solar consultant. By 2007, Caleb was proud to be the first home on Forest Park Blvd to have solar panels on the south-facing roof. He installed three different solar systems, two on the roof of his house and one on the carriage barn. During this time, Caleb worked as a housing specialist in the Rock County Planning and Development Agency.

In an interview by Anna Marie Leif, a journalist with the Janesville Gazette, on February 4, 2007, Caleb is quoted as saying, “Solar energy can happen in your house in this city. It is just amazing to me that it works, even in winter. The concept is beautifully simple. Everyone knows the difference between standing in the sun and the shade!”

Caleb installed a domestic hot water heating system in 2001. He installed a photovoltaic system in 2003 to produce about a third of the household's electricity. He also installed a solar thermal system which added supplemental heat to the family's forced air furnace. Caleb and his family also used energy-efficient appliances, including their super-insulated moisture-free basement. In addition, Caleb drove one of the first hybrid gas-electric cars in southern Wisconsin. Caleb also drove a diesel Volkswagen which ran on recycled vegetable oil. In the summer, during the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair, Caleb presented information on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living.

Caleb founded his own business, Janesville Home and Solar, LLC. In 2007 Caleb's home was open for a state tour of solar buildings and was put on the National Tour list of solar homes. In recognition of his organization's innovation and leadership in sustainability, Caleb received the Sustainable Energy Award and the prestigious Pearl Certification, which was awarded on July 23, 2023. This platinum award is the highest award for a high-performance energy-efficient home. Further innovations of Caleb’s include designing and building a 1,000-gallon rainwater tank and successfully designing a moisture-free basement.

In addition to the inordinately groundbreaking efforts to promote sustainability and harvest energy from the sun, Caleb was also engaged in the internal work of healing the human heart. Caleb studied and facilitated inner nature integration as taught and developed by Dr. Solihin Thom since 1991. Most recently Caleb traveled to Turkey with Renee to attend a 21-day workshop for Inner Dialogue, also taught by Solihin Thom.

Caleb lived a life full of activity, innovation, and creativity. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, his efforts in energy efficiency, weatherization, sustainability, and solar harvest have him at the forefront of the future that will harvest the vast resources of the universe. And yet, it is his love for his chickens, who lived in a positive chicken palace, designed and built by Caleb, his dogs, as well as his many friends and colleagues, and mostly for his beloved wife, Renee, and beloved daughter Carena that make Caleb a man of all seasons, all climates and all times.

Caleb is survived by his wife, Renee, his daughter, Carena (Rob), his sister, Leslie Ann (John), and nephew, Prescott (Molly) and grand nephew, Linus. Caleb is predeceased by his parents, and his nephew, Taylor.