Thomas Richard Jedlicka, Oklahoma City, floated to Heaven Thursday, October 10, 2013, at 1:05 a.m.

He was born March 15, 1957, to Gustav Traugott and Margrit Mueller Jedlicka in Omaha, Nebraska.

He moved to Oklahoma City at a young age and graduated from Northwest Classen High School in 1975.

On a full baseball athletic scholarship, he attended Southwestern College, Oklahoma City University, and graduated from University of Central Oklahoma in 1979.

He began his teaching career in Oklahoma City schools, where, in January 1982, teaching at Webster Middle School, he met a cute, young blonde. It was a "love at first sight," made in Heaven. They became inseparable, going to softball games, McDonald's, and country-western dancing almost every night. In April, they became engaged, and on September 16, 1982, he married this sweetheart of his, Joanie Jezek. They made their home in Oklahoma City, being blessed with five children, Jyle, Jerek, Jaron, Jada, and Jacey. Joining their blessed family in 2011, they welcomed Alison; 2012, Bobby; and his last blessing in April 2013, his first grandbaby, Josie Jeanette.

At the age of 18, he began umpiring, which he did for over 30 years. In recognition of his many years of support and dedication to excellence in Slow Pitch Softball, he was inducted into the Oklahoma USSSA Hall of Fame in the 2005 Umpire Category.

His family shared in his sports. With this dedication and love of ball playing, the Jedlicka Family was named as "Oklahoma's Youth Baseball Family of the Year in 1996." Tom continued with his love of ball known as "Coach Jed" to his thousands of students, whom he coached for over three decades.

From Oklahoma City schools, he coached at Mayfield Junior High and ended his career at Putnam City North High School coaching Boys Basketball and Girls Golf.

During his coaching career, he molded young minds teaching history subjects without having to raise his voice. He had a distinct teaching ability, sometimes even standing on his desk - which for a 6'3" tall man was very funny.

He lived his life loving his family and friends. He could talk sports for hours, even with strangers.

He loved to sing, especially Elvis Presley songs. He could impersonate anyone or anything and was the best dancer ever. At his children's birthday parties, he was known as "The Simon Says Man." His family could always depend on him to make everyone laugh. He never met a stranger and everyone knew "Coach Jed."

He could play many sports, usually always winning, especially in Ping-Pong, poker, golf, basketball, baseball, and scrabble. He had a heart of gold, never said a bad thing about anyone, a gentle touch and loving and caring heart.

He had a remarkable sense of humor, always finding the good and positive in everything; even in bad situations, he always said, "it could be worse."

Tom fought a courageous three-year battle with cancer, always saying, "I'm doing better than I should." Through all his treatments, he never complained once, was a perfect example of his strong faith in God that one day, when God was ready, he would live eternity in God's perfect world.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Paul and Stan; and mother-in-law, Marge Jezek.

He is survived by his sweet wife, Joanie; children, Jyle Jerry James, Jerek Thomas, Jaron Trey, Jada Jamae, and Jacey Joree Joan; granddaughter, Josie Jeanette; daughter-in-law, Alison; son-in-law, Bobby -- all of Oklahom City; sisters: Bea, JJ, and Suzie, of Oklahoma City; Lil, California; and Rosy, Florida; brothers: Mike and Freddy, of Oklahoma City; and Donnie, Iowa; aunts: Hedy Muller, Iowa; and Elisabeth von Aarburg, Switzerland; sister-in-law, Marjorie VanDyke, Oklahoma City; and hundreds of cousins throughout the world.

Visitation is Saturday, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., and Sunday noon - 8:00 p.m.

Services are at New Church Monday, October 14, 2013, at 10:00 a.m.

Published October 13, 2013.

Submitted & © by: Sherry Springer

Submitted & © by: Sherry Springer