Jerry Wadden
May 11, 1938 — January 05, 2024
- Share:
-
-
-
Service Details
Jerry Michael Wadden, 85, was born on May 11, 1938, and died peacefully on January 5, 2024, in Des Moines, IA, of longstanding congestive heart failure. His last days were spent in the compassionate care of hospice workers at EveryStep Kavanagh where his wife and daughter were able to talk, listen, and hold his hands until he took his last breath. Before going to hospice, he spent a month in the care of many devoted Mercy One nurses, CNAs, and doctors who will remember him as a kind and grateful patient.
Jerry leaves behind a legacy of integrity, intelligence, reliability, and thoughtfulness. Over the years, he was recognized with numerous accolades, but he was proudest of his roles as a steadfast loving husband, father, trusted brother, and friend.
He graduated from North High School and worked at The Des Moines Register to pay for college at Drake University where he later earned a master’s degree in English. He was a revered educator at Tech, East, Merrill, and Hoover. His students remember him as a captivating and fiercely dedicated teacher who cared for them like family. He found his calling in teaching, and his light continues to shine through the many lives he touched. After teaching for 35 years, he took a leadership position as supervisor of Language Arts, and finally as Chief Academic Officer for the Des Moines Public Schools where his impact was legendary.
Jerry was respected in the local community and was an engaged mentor to many. The week before he was hospitalized, he continued to help retirees choose insurance plans, something he had done for more than 10 years while volunteering with SHIIP. In his later years, he enthusiastically learned to cook and had fun serving others, especially his wife Marilynn. He also looked forward to lunches with longtime dear friends, laughing with family and neighbors, and reminiscing with former students and colleagues. Jerry was an avid reader of newspapers, magazines, and books until the last weeks of his life.
He appreciated vacationing in many states and countries with family. Travel was his favorite way for them to bond. Most wouldn't know that he had an adventurous streak, especially after surviving a sudden cardiac death incident in 1999. He fearlessly ziplined, rode elephants, climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, explored national parks, and skied Colorado mountains. In their retirement, Jerry and Marilynn appreciated the opportunity to explore faraway places and embraced world travel. They took many of their trips after the death of their beloved son Bill to help them deal with their grief. But the main reason Jerry was able to accept the sadness was because Marilynn was by his side and because of their daughter Leigh’s beautiful soul, spirit, and patience over the years.
Jerry leaves behind a loving family including his wife of 61 years, Marilynn; daughter Leigh Wadden (Michael) of Frisco, CO; bonus grandson Dylan Berwyn of Bozeman, MT; brother Steven (Sue) Wadden; nephews Jeff Wadden (Kelly), Mike Wadden (Misty), Matt (Tiffany) Grant; nieces Madeline (Brian) Crandell, Rachel (Justin) Wonders, Rebecca Grant (Joe); cousins Randy (Gayleen) Warren, Peggy Bailey (Scottie); and many great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by infant daughter Julie Michelle and son William Grant Wadden; parents Don and Florine Wadden; parents-in-law Harry and Dorothy Grant; aunt Opal (Bill) Warren; and brother-in-law Gary Grant. If Jerry were writing this, he would include the many adored cats and dogs that enriched his life.
Jerry supported several charities, especially Animal Rescue League, Salvation Army, and Hope Ministries. He would be honored if you wanted to contribute to one of them in his memory. The family held a private visitation in January and invites you to the public memorial service at Des Moines Botanical Garden at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024. Please visit hamiltonsfuneralhome.com to share your memories and stories about Jerry.
Jeff Rissman
01/14/2024
Good Bye Mr Wadden. You truly ran the good race. I was privileged to be part of your English class (HHS 70). You set a standard that was unequaled in my educational experience. You were a strict disciplinarian but embraced your students with humor and grace. We were lucky to have public school teachers who were proud of their craft and dedicated to their students. Thank you Sir, you will be missed.
Jason Danielson
01/13/2024
Its been a tough week saying goodbye to my godfather, Jerry Wadden. He was a force. An incredible teacher, a genuine intellectual, and above all one of the kindest and most thoughtful people Ive ever known. He was my dads best friend, old teaching buddies who grew old together as they transitioned from old Des Moines dive bars to early lunches at Noahs. He was one of the most important mentors in my moms life too. As a teacher of English and then a teacher of teachers, his influence runs deep and wide in Des Moines Public Schools. He mentored me as I started my career, and the visits to his south side home after frustrating days at Brody that first year had an essential role in keeping me from leaving the classroom. But it was the godfather Ill cherish most. Every year on my birthday growing up, he would take me to dinner and then shopping for books. We went from Roald Dahl to Sinclair Lewis and everywhere in between. There was no bullshitting with Jerry. He asked thoughtful questions and preferred meaningful conversation. He had a sharp and sometimes wicked sense of humor but never faked it with anyone. The only thing more impressive than his brain was his heart, and I think hed be the first to appreciate the irony that it was his heart that finally did him in. The world lost one of its very best this week, but it had over eight decades to be blessed by him too. Im enormously grateful that I had Jerry in my life.
Peggy Doane
01/13/2024
I'm saddened to read this. Jerry was so good to all of us at 1800 Grand. Every summer he would have a picnic at his house for the secretaries at 1800. Prayers and sympathy to all his family.🙏🙏
Joan Stewart-Polete
01/12/2024
This breaks my heart. I know no one can live forever, but Mr Wadden should have so everyone could benefit from his wisdom and knowledge. He was my favorite teacher and I know many other Hoover grads would say the exact same thing. So blessed that he came to our Class of 1972 50th reunion in August 2022. RIP Mr Wadden. And I send condolences to Marilyn and the entire family.
Rick Tracy HHS 1971
01/12/2024
Condolences to Mr. Wadden's family. I am a graduate from the Hoover High School Class of 1971 and he was my English teacher. One of the best teachers I ever had. I was saddened to hear of Mr. Wadden's passing. He was a great teacher and inspiration. He kept us on our toes, was a no-nonsense teacher, but was definitely very dedicated to passing along his intellect and enthusiasm to us if we wanted to absorb it. In that class, we read several books, but one of the books we read was MacBeth, whom I had little knowledge of, but I learned a lot from reading it that has stuck with me over all these years. It inspired me to read Hamlet on my own, many years later. I remember I stayed after class a couple of times and he was very interested in me and wanted to make sure I understood my questions that I asked him. I saw him at a later reunion (it might have been the 35th) and I had a conversation with him. I thanked him for what he did for me, and shared with him that his class helped me in college, and complimented him on being a great inspiration and a great teacher. He smiled and thanked me. I am 71 years old now, but he will always be "Mr. Wadden". I wanted to share the respect I had for him.
Susan Pundzak
01/12/2024
I am so sorry for your loss! Jerry certainly influenced many and left a legacy of appreciation for teachers. I always looked forward to his "welcome back" message to DM teachers; his enthusiasm and humor were contagious! He once evaluated me in a ninth grade English class the day after trick or treating and understood perfectly why some students seemed a bit hyper. He helped my daughter and I through a particularly difficult time, and I will forever be grateful to him. He was a quiet hero doing good work.
Thomas DeAngelo
01/12/2024
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jerry, or Mr. Wadden as I knew him at Hoover High School from 1969-71.
As a clearly excellent teacher, Mr Wadden has remained in my thoughts over the years for his ability to inspire and support many students. For me it was his enthusiasm for creative writing and his role as a college mentor that created a relationship beyond the classroom. He was at the top of my list of life mentors, a role for which I will be always grateful.
I can only wish that all students today can find figures like Mr. Wadden to lean on. He was an
A+. My best regards to his family and his community of friends.
Deb Tharnish
01/12/2024
I have read the other comments and agree 100%. Linda Robbins did a masterful job describing Mr. Waddens teaching. I have a great appreciation for Faulkner because of Mr. Waddens guidance. I became an English major in college because of him. I recently found essays and writing assignments from his class (50 years ago) and reached out to him to say thank you for the influence he had on my life. As always, he was so gracious. Condolences to Marilyn and Leah. How lucky were we all to have Mr. Wadden in our lives!
Scott Davis
01/11/2024
Of course I too enjoyed his professionalism as a teacher to us students, there was something about that was instantly present. But one of my most proud moments was when he popped in to my band classroom at Goodrell Middle School and having briefly observed me teaching, offered nothing but compliments with that devilish grin! I was honored!
Amy Campos-Hong
01/11/2024
Jerry Wadden taught me how to speak to be heard, organize my thoughts to communicate action, tact, diplomacy, and strategic leadership through his mentorship. Lessons I have carried with me, lessons that will never leave me. Without Jerrys mentorship I would not of had the successes nor the successful comebacks from defeat.
You were a gift, a once in a lifetime opportunity, I am so fortunate to of had your willingness to invest in teaching me, and lucky enough to have realized the impact your greatness could have on my development.
My heart goes out to his two leading women and his family.
Craig Stokes HHS 1974
01/11/2024
Fifty years later I remember the warning from upper classmen about the expectations that Mr. Wadden would set out on the first day of class. As anticipated, he told us what would be required in the upcoming academic year. No one accepted the invitation to leave. I remember laughter that came with reading Shakespeare, Sophocles and Faulkner and hearing the account of the immortal booger. I remember his last day of class lecture on the futures of our lives. For him education was a profession, not mere employment.
Kim Kubler Wolterman, HHS Class of 1974
01/11/2024
First of all I'd like to express my condolences not only to Mr. Wadden's family, but also to all who were blessed to have had this man as a teacher. A clever and inspirational instructor, I developed a life-long love of reading and writing from Mr. Wadden. When we met again at our 40th reunion, he said he was not surprised that I became a published author. The truth is, I don't believe I would have accomplished that goal.without his tutelage in high school. I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to tell him that in person. Many teachers pass through our lives, but only a rare few leave a lasting mark on us. Mr. Wadden was one of the few.
Terry Henderson Hernandez, HHS a class of 1974
01/11/2024
Most are in agreement that Mr. Wadden was our favorite teacher - my vote is also yes! Humorous, wise, inspiring, and so committed to our learning - we didnt realize at the time that we would never have such a devoted teacher again.
Rest in peace, Mr. Wadden, and condolences to Marilyn and the entire family.
I wonder if the immortal booger is still painted into the wall of his classroom?!
Linda Robbins Coleman
01/11/2024
Jerry opened up so many worlds to me, he gave me possibilities that I hadnt known existed, and he believed in me. That meant the world to me. When I close my eyes I can immediately visualize being in his classroom more than fifty years ago, going through Shakespeare line by line, and learning about the capabilities and possibilities of the human mind through great literature. He introduced me to many writers and, more importantly, he taught me how to learn. He also helped cultivate a curiosity in me that has served me well throughout my life. I have always said that he is one of the top five most influential men in my life.
What makes Jerry especially remarkable is that the time our lives directly connected was so brief. Sitting in a class filled with other students, to understand how he was able to reach out and touch my mind and my soul and have such a lasting impact on the rest of my life shows what a remarkable, gifted, and amazing teacher and human being he was. His whole life was remarkable, and his impact on this world was such an important and positive one.
Sending much love and condolences to Marilynn, Leigh, and to all who knew and loved Jerry.
Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, Jerry, and thank you for everything that you did and all that you were. You were a prince among men. We shall not see your like again.
Christine (Wigton) Classick
01/11/2024
The passing of a legend. What a tribute to all that is good in the education system and in the world. Unless one was lucky enough to experience the phenomenon that WAS Mr. Wadden it is difficult to explain his teaching style, his ability to make each student feel especially important and his desire to make everyone strive to be their best. He inspired me to be a teacher and to instill the love of reading, literature, theatre and writing to hundreds of students and to my own children and grandchildren. My friends and I (Hoover Class of 1972) would gather to study for his tests and treated it as if it were fun! A man for all seasons, and a great gift to the world of education. Rest in Peace, Mr. Wadden, and thanks for giving so much to so many! My condolences to Marilynn and the entire family who were lucky enough to know and love him.