Obituary: Jaeger, Thomas Charles
Age 82
Tom was raised in north Spokane and attended Saint Francis of Assisi Grade School and Saint Francis High School in Santa Barbara, CA.
Tom was a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army from 1956 to 1958 serving in Europe on the border of West Germany and Czechoslovakia.
After his military service, he returned to Spokane and worked at Sacred Heart Hospital where he met his future wife, Maureen.
Tom pursued his Bachelors in Education from Gonzaga University and Whitworth College.
As an educator, Tom spent 10 years in the Mead school district during which time he earned his Masters Degree in Education and Guidance Counseling from Eastern Washington University.
After his time at Mead, he worked for the Washington State Community College system as a career guidance counselor at Spokane Community College, until his retirement in 1994.
Devoted to his community, he served on the boards of Lilac City Figure Skating Club and Amicus Credit Union.
He was passionate about education and sent all three of his daughters to Gonzaga Prep.
Tom’s family was his life.
Married to his beloved wife for 54 years, Tom and Maureen raised their three daughters in Spokane.
In later years he doted on his six grandchildren and spent innumerable hours cheering them on at sporting and school events.
Travel was a passion throughout his life and he enjoyed trips throughout the US, Australia, Canada and Europe.
Tom is survived by his wife of 54 years, Maureen; three daughters: Geralyn Bird, of Spokane, Laura Faulkner of Bellevue, WA, and Melanie Eckhardt of Edmonds, WA; five granddaughters: Kaylah Keenan, Meghan Keenan, Morgan Faulkner, Cheyanne Faulkner, Nicole Faulkner; one grandson, Matthew Keenan; and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
Tom will be remembered for his dry sense of humor and deadpan delivery, only given away by the twinkle in his eye.
Think of him and smile.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents: Carl and Marion Jaeger; and two sisters: Marion Driscoll and Dianne Nelson.
Visitation Tuesday, April 22nd 2-6 pm, Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home followed by Holy Rosary at 7:00 pm.
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial, followed by a reception, Wednesday, April 23rd at 11:00 am at St. Thomas More Church, 515 W. St. Thomas More Way, Spokane, WA.
Private interment at a later date.
Tom was a man of great faith and valued education.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Gonzaga Preparatory High School, Fair Share Program.
Please visit Tom’s online memorial at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com, and leave a message of condolence.
Arrangements have been entrusted to: