Thomas "Coach Jed" Richard Jedlicka

Thomas Richard Jedlicka, Oklahoma City, floated to Heaven on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 1:05 a.m., while holding his beloved wife’s hand. He was one of eleven children born on March 15, 1957 to Gustav Traugott & Margrit (Mueller) Jedlicka in Omaha, Nebraska. He moved to Oklahoma City at a young age and attended Cleveland Elementary, Taft Middle School, and graduated from Northwest Classen High School in 1975.

On full Baseball Athletic scholarships 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 while teaching at Webster Middle School, he met a cute young blonde. It was a “love at first sight”, made in heaven relationship. 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, 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 Wright as a daughter-in-law; 2012 Bobby Yannarell as a son-in-law; and his last blessing in April 2013 his first grandbaby, Josie Jeanette. He enjoyed playing with her during his last months; he was in charge of holding and feeding her every day. He loved her wonderful smile and little laugh.

During Tom’s lifetime he was a ball player. From a very young age he was always playing either baseball, softball, basketball, or golf - a very athletic person. He at times played on several softball teams at the same time, winning hundreds of trophies, MVP, Golden Glove, Best Player, and played in several World Series Games. Any ball player that knew him, knew that he loved his beer. His last words were, “I want a beer”.

At the age of 18 he began umpiring which he did for over 30 years. Teams loved his fair, humorous, cool-minded manners and requested him constantly. 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 all the children playing some type of ball. Joanie was his scorekeeper while he coached his children. 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 who he coached for over three decades. From OKC 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 teaching/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. His students loved him remarking how he was a wonderful role model, amazing teacher, inspiration, great influence, sweet man, huge heart, lucky to know him, made everyone laugh, best teacher ever, always there when I needed him, just like a dad, and the list goes on and on. All students loved him, even those that didn’t even have him for a teacher or coach. He made a lifelong mark on thousands. He coached every sport except wrestling and soccer. He lived his life loving his family and friends. He was a remarkable son-in-law. When his mother-in-law passed away, he was the speaker for her service. He could talk sports for hours, even with strangers. He watched sports hour after hour, switching channels during commercials to yet another sport. 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 & caring heart. He had a remarkable sense of humor, always finding the good & positive in everything, even in bad situations he always said, “it could be worse”. One of his last teacher recognitions was when he was acknowledged by Anna Burch as being the “Best Teacher Ever” when she was crowned 2012 Putnam City North Queen. Whenever he promised a student he would be there, he was there, no matter the circumstances. He even went to the OU Girls Softball Championship for Ashli Barrett. He was a Nebraska Cornhusker at heart and later OSU Cowboy.

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 always reminded his family that we are here on earth only for a short time. Family would like to thank Dr. Chohan, Tracey, Beverly, Debbie, Ryan, Justin, Leah, Jill and all the other nurses at Cancer Specialists for their kind loving care.

Tom loved old cars, especially his Lincolns and Jag. He spent hours washing, polishing, and taking care of them. He took care of all his children’s cars and whenever they left, he always reminded them to “drive safe”. Tom loved what he did, lived his life to the fullest, and never regretted a day. He will be remembered and loved always by so many people

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Paul and Stan and mother-in-law Marge Jezek. 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 Oklahoma City; sisters Bea, JJ, Suzie of Oklahoma City; Lil of California, Rosy of Florida; brothers Mike, Freddy of Oklahoma City; and Donnie in Iowa; aunts Hedy Muller of Iowa and Elisabeth von Aarburg of Switzerland; sister-in-law Marjorie VanDyke of Oklahoma City; and hundreds of cousins throughout the world.

Pallbearers will be sons Jyle, Jerek, & Jaron, son-in-law Bobby, and best friends Tyler Trout and Jerry Woods. Honorary pallbearers are Gary Wright, Bill Robertson, Scott Burger, Brian Sloan, and Mike Gentry, Conard Terrell, Boys Basketball teams at Mayfield and PCN and PCN Girls Golf Team.

Burial will be in Prague, Oklahoma, with another open casket burial service at the Czech National Cemetery around 2:30 p.m., Monday, October 14, 2013.