MAZON, Ill. — Mr. Thomas Paul Jeschke, 25, of rural Mazon, Ill., passed away early Monday morning, Sept. 5, 2011, from injuries received in an automobile accident.
Private funeral services will be conducted Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, at Park Street Congregational Church in Mazon, with the Rev. Winn Alley officiating. Following the interment at Ward Cemetery, the family will receive friends and family at their farm, 2650 W. Prairie Road, Mazon. Friends may gather any time after 2 p.m. A time of remembrance for Thomas will begin at 4 p.m., with dinner to be available following the time of sharing.
Thomas was born July 11, 1986, in Morris, Ill., the son of Paul R. and Donna M. (Dollinger) Jeschke. He attended Mazon Grade School and was a graduate and the valedictorian of the Class of 2004 of Seneca Township High School.
Following high school, he attended Purdue University, where he received a bachelor's degree in engineering in 2008. While at Purdue, Thomas found a second home and family with his brothers at Sigma Chi Fraternity, and culminated his time at the university by giving the student commencement address at the university's graduation ceremonies.
Upon his graduation from Purdue, Thomas was employed with R.W. Armstrong in Indianapolis, Ind., as a project engineer. While at R.W. Armstrong, he spent six months in Azerbaijan working on the beginnings of the first major road construction project in the country.
In July of 2010, Thomas decided to return to his agricultural roots and moved back to Mazon to begin working for a beloved family friend and mentor (Bob Briscoe). Thomas was currently employed with Prairie Creek Grain / TransCoastal Supply in Elwood, Ill.
Thomas was a friend to everyone he met and enjoyed traveling through life with his family, childhood friends and college buddies. He was a member the Purdue Alumni Association, the Seneca FFA Alumni Association, and Park Street Congregational Church in Mazon.
Thomas is loved by so many family and friends, and will be forever remembered by his parents, Donna and Paul of rural Mazon, Ill.; one brother, Stephen (Erin) Jeschke and their daughter, Tess, in Chicago, Ill.; maternal grandmother Cecelia Dollinger of Channahon, Ill., and paternal grandmother Doris Jeschke of Rock City, Ill.; his great aunt, Viola Ramsay of Shorewood, Ill.; aunts Mary Dollinger (David Kavanagh) of Lake Forest, Ill., Paula (Gregory) Lorenz of Plainfield, Ill., and Carol (Steve Kneubuehl) Jeschke of Freeport, Ill.; uncles John (Noreen) Dollinger of Channahon, Ill., Edward (Gloria) Dollinger of Joliet, Ill., John (Monica) Jeschke of Rock City, Ill., and Dale Jeschke and Bryan Farlow of Seattle, Wash.; as well as numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandfathers, Vernon Dollinger and Reinhard Jeschke; a great uncle, George Ramsay; and uncle James Jeschke.
The family plans to create an endowment in Thomas's memory for the Seneca High School FFA Chapter and would encourage memorial gifts in his memory to be directed to the "Seneca FFA at First Midwest Bank."
Arrangements have been entrusted to U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home in Morris. Online condolences can be directed to the family at www.ucdavisandsons.com. For information, please contact the funeral home at (815) 942-0084.