Tyler John "TJ" Schaefer

Tyler John "TJ" Schaefer, age 39, of Alta, Iowa died Friday, September 8, 2023 at the University of Iowa Hospital. Funeral services will take place Monday, September 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Aurelia. Visitation will be held Sunday, September 17, 2023 from 3-7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Vigil and time of sharing at 6:30 p.m., all at the CHURCH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of TJ to the Alta - Aurelia Warrior Athletic Boosters and the Alta - Aurelia Elementary PTO. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. On February 20, 1984, Don and Karen (Zimmerman) Schaefer were blessed with the birth of their son, Tyler John Schaefer, in Cherokee, Iowa. TJ was baptized and confirmed at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cherokee. From a young age TJ was a driven child with a marked passion for sports. The Oakland Raiders, Iowa Hawkeyes and Aurelia Bulldogs ruled his world. Everything he did reflected ultimate loyalty to these teams, even to the details of asking Santa for blue and green bedroom carpet to display his Bulldog pride. He worked hard at sports, scouts, school and volunteering for his community. He loved his hometown of Aurelia, Iowa and often reflected on his favorite job ever at Maple Valley Hardware. His childhood work ethic paved the way for great success in high school sports. He loved playing baseball, playing third base among other positions, advancing to substate baseball with his team in 2001. TJ played tight end and defensive end on the 2001 8-player State Runner-up Aurelia Football Team, playing every play of the championship game on both sides of the ball. He also made his mother endure many cold nights of track meets, even though track was merely used as conditioning for baseball and football. TJ enjoyed music very much and joined the high school concert band, often assigned the triangle, but was eligible to play guitar for jazz band and played with the Aurelia Jazz Band at the Iowa Jazz Championships three years running. He graduated from Aurelia High School in 2002 and went on to attend Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge where he was active with band, theater and served as an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He later finished his bachelor's degree in education at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. On August 2, 2008, TJ was united in marriage to Jolene Frantzen in New Hampton, Iowa. They were blessed with three daughters: Jacqueline, Jocelyn, and Nora. TJ decided at a young age to become a teacher and coach in a small town. He fulfilled these plans beginning his teaching career at Exira High School in 2007 teaching social studies and coaching football, baseball and track. Exira football became a special experience of hard work and great memories, seeing the team into the 2010 playoffs and many more successes. He saw the end of the Exira High School era and the beginning of the Exira-EHK Spartans, even pushing for them to adopt the Raiders colors as they were selecting a mascot and school colors. (They settled with Raiders colors plus maroon). In 2012, TJ, Jolene and Jackie relocated to South Hamilton of Jewell where TJ taught high school social studies and was the head football coach of the Hawks. Coach Schaefer led the South Hamilton football program to its first winning season in 5 years and led the Hawks to the playoffs in 2013. TJ injected enthusiasm into the football program and encouraged all athletes in the weight room which has led to more successes since he left. He also proudly organized the Veterans Day assemblies with his government students and supported the music department as both a teacher and husband to the director. Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer were often thought of as “school parents” for many students. The family, including baby Jocelyn, later moved closer to home, accepting jobs at MMC and Storm Lake. While at MMC and MMCRU TJ taught special education, assistant coached the 2015 8-player State Football Championship team and was the head baseball coach for the MMCRU Royals. After Nora was born, TJ finally made it back home accepting a high school social studies position at Alta-Aurelia High School where he also coached football and girls track, sending 20 events to State Track in three seasons. Mr. Schaefer’s students were a second family to him, as were his co-workers. Along with a solid history and civics education he provided well timed movie quotes, dad jokes and classroom food parties. TJ’s hobbies revolved around his daughters and his students. Instead of picking up a typical hobby, TJ could be found in the weight room, supporting students at school activities or driving his girls to dance, softball and countless other activities. He never missed a birthday party, recital, or concert and was very involved with the many details that made holidays perfect in their home. They enjoyed traveling as a family and made great memories at Table Rock Lake, Florida beach and bowl trip vacations, Disney World, Texas, Boston, New York City and he proudly took his wife and children on his dream “honeymoon” to Canton, Ohio to see the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The girls had the privilege of riding to school every morning with their old man and spending precious time in his classroom before and after school. He happily coached all three girls’ softball teams and enjoyed taking them to Iowa City to see Hawkeye football and basketball. Being a father was his greatest accomplishment and passion in life and he did everything for his girls, including caring for their rambunctious basset hound, Marge, and looking the other way when they brought home a shelter cat instead of a dog this summer. Left to cherish TJ’s memory include his wife: Jolene Schaefer of Alta; daughters: Jackie, Jocelyn, and Nora Schaefer of Alta; parents: Karen (Kevin) Kestel of Storm Lake; Don (Jean) Schaefer of Aurelia; brothers: Nick (Devin) Kestel of Eagle Grove; Mike (Lesley) Kestel of Alta; Jake (Elizabeth) Schaefer of Cedar Falls; in-laws Tom and Irene Frantzen, Alta Vista, Iowa; sister-in-law: Jess (Michelle) Frantzen of Rochester, Minnesota; brother-in-law: James (Amanda) Frantzen of Elma, Iowa; nieces and nephews: Aiden Kestel; Riley Kestel; Melissa Kestel; Reese Kestel; Reece Meitner-Luna; Beckett Frantzen; Thomas and Eleanor Schaefer; extended family and many friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Dean and Nadine Schaefer; Kenny and Joan Zimmerman; and Gene and Doreen Kestel.

Tyler John "TJ" Schaefer

February 20, 1984 - September 8, 2023