Dr. Thomas Alan Jeschke

Dr. Thomas Alan Jeschke, age 80, of Panora, Iowa died Monday March 20, 2023, at Kavanagh House Hospice, in Des Moines, Iowa after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Tom was born September 12, 1942 in Dayton, Ohio, and adopted by Reuben and Sabina Jeschke.  He was raised in Sioux Falls, and graduated from Sioux Falls College with a teaching degree in 1962. Tom married Conni Bishop in 1963 in Des Moines, IA. They moved to Greeley Colorado where he completed his Masters and Doctorate in Special Education at the University of Northern Colorado.

In 1965, Tom began his career as a teacher in Sioux Falls, SD. They moved to Des Moines, IA in 1970 where he started as principal at Rose School. Dr. Jeschke was known to his colleagues, staff, and students as a compassionate, caring educator who received many awards during his tenure at the Des Moines Public Schools. In 1977 he was given the role of Director and then Executive Director of Special Education. His role was expanded to Executive Director of Student Services, in 1990. He served the district for 33 years after retiring in 2004.

Tom also served as Chair of the school district’s Pupil Assignment Council, Executive Council Administrators for Special Education, and a member of the Juvenile Justice Task Force. He was a board member of the Governor’s Council for Developmental Disabilities and Director of the Iowa Special Olympics for 11 years. Tom served on the boards for the Polk County Health Service Board, Easter Seals Advisory Board and acted as vice president for EdCo Credit Union Board for 7 years.

Survivors include his wife Conni of Des Moines, two children, Lorie (Kent) Altemeier of Johnston, Amy (Mike) Wandrey of Norwalk; one grandchild, Elaine Greiner of Illinois; one brother Paul (Anne) Jeschke of California; three sisters-in-law, Brenda (George) Vasecek of Michigan, Kay Reeves of Missouri, Susie McFadden of Texas: and 7 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In his free time, Tom enjoyed spending time with family and his dogs, grilling, golfing with his wife and friends, fishing in Canada, and playing cards. He was a creative artist at heart, developing skills in painting, pottery, stained glass and much more. He turned his greatest passion into Dr. Tom’s Workshop and The Raccoon River Carving Club, in which he carved thousands of Santas and specialty items. He was later featured for his Santas in Better Homes and Gardens. Tom also had an excitement for travel. During college, he was an exchange student in the Philippines. He traveled to many countries abroad with his wife Conni, but his favorite trip was to China with his granddaughter,

Visitation begins Friday evening April 28th with the family present 4-8 pm at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home 8201 Hickman Road, Urbandale, Iowa.    Funeral Services will be 11:00 am Saturday, April 29th at United Methodist Church, 111 West Main Street, Panora, Iowa.  Family inurnment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Tori’s Angles.

Tori's Angels Foundation
PO Box 186
Panora, Iowa 50216
641-755-2011
Admin@torisangels.org