John Tedore

West Des Moines

John Albert Tedore peacefully passed away in West Des Moines, IA on September 13, 2015, several days short of his 91st birthday. A memorial visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, October 2, 2015 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines followed by a memorial mass at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will be at Resthaven Mausoleum in West Des Moines.

John was born in Waterloo, IA to Tony and Sophia Tedore. He graduated from Waterloo East High School and was an accomplished student and athlete. John’s freshman year of college was spent at Creighton University, where he caught a pass during the last play, of the last game, in the history of Creighton football. His college career at Creighton University was interrupted when he entered the U.S. Army, serving in WWII from 1943 until the war’s end in 1945.

While in the Army, John joined an elite unit known as the First Special Service Force, called the “Black Devils” by their German enemies, and later known as the “Devil’s Brigade” by Hollywood film makers. He fought for the Force in Italy and France and received a Bronze Star. For their courageous service, the First Special Service Force was awarded the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol on February 3, 2015. John and other family members attended the ceremony where each living honoree received a replica medal and the brigade as a whole was awarded the official gold medal.

After the war, John resumed his education at the University of Iowa where he played football for three years and baseball for four years, earning letters for both sports each year and co-captaining a Hawkeye baseball team that won the Big 10 baseball championship in 1949. While at the University of Iowa, he met Phyllis Ann Kempf of Audubon, IA, and they were married in 1950. After graduating from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, John’s enthusiasm for education and athletics drew him to a career in teaching, coaching and administration in Belle Plaine, Clarinda, Oskaloosa and nearly 20 years in Des Moines where he retired in 1987.

John is survived by his wife, Phyllis; and their six children, Nancy (Dan) Christensen, Tony Tedore (Maya Packard), Joseph (Kathy) Tedore, Jay Tedore, Mary (Robert) Salomon, and Tiffany Tedore (Mark Schoenebaum); eight grandchildren, Jenna (Ben) Schonhoft, Andrew and Hannah Salomon, John, James, and Audrey Tedore, Isadora and Lucille Schoenebaum: and a host of relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Stephen and George Tedore and Rose Henniger.

His family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of Arbor Springs and H.C.I. Hospice.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Children’s Cancer Connection in Des Moines.