Donald J. Tesdall 1938 - 2012

TESDALL, OPPEDDAHL, GEHEBER, INGHAM, SEMPSON, BIRKESTRAND

Posted By: Linda H Meyers (email)
Date: 2/26/2015 at 14:44:14

Donald J. Tesdall (1938 - 2012)

Obituary

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Donald J. Tesdall, DVM, MD

Des Moines

Donald "DJ" Tesdall, 73, passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at home surrounded by family.

The family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, October 7, 2012, at Hamilton's Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 8, 2012 at Oakwood United Methodist Church, 400 NE 56th St. in Pleasant Hill. Burial with full military honors will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 9, 2012, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

Don was born October 21, 1938, in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the son of Harvey O. and Evelyn (Oppedahl) Tesdall. He was raised on a farm near Huxley, Iowa, and attended Huxley schools, graduating from Huxley High School in 1956.

Don attended Iowa State University and graduated with a degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1962. Following his graduation he enrolled in Medical School at the University of Iowa and graduated in 1966. Don did his Internship at Iowa Lutheran Hospital from 1966-1967. He then went into General Practice with Drs Burgeson, Redfield, and Schlaser. In 1974 he was a founder of the Iowa Lutheran Family Practice Residency Program. Don continued to practice family medicine and teach in the Residency Program until his retirement in November of 2005.

Don joined the Iowa Army National Guard in January of 1967, beginning his military career with the 168th INF. He served in the 204th, 34th and the 296th units. He became State Surgeon in November of 1989 and was promoted to a Brigadier General upon his retirement in October of 1998.

He married Mary Jane Geheber in January of 1964. They had four children.

In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and golfing.

Don is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Jane; children, John (Kristin) Tesdall, Ankeny, Anne (Fred) Ingham, Lone Tree, CO, Mark (Lisa) Tesdall, Pleasant Hill, and Liz (Scott) Simpson, Geneva, IL; six grandsons, Nathan and Drake Tesdall, Freddie and Charlie Ingham, and Ted and Ethan Simpson; brother David (Verda) Tesdall, Huxley; and nieces Rajean (Steve) Birkestrand, Slater, Aspen and Lakota Geheber, Leitchfield, KY.

He was preceded in death by his parents, niece Roxann Harmon, and great nephew Derek Harmon.

The family would like to thank Dr Stanton Danielson for his devoted friendship and care.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions to the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians Foundation where a scholarship will be established in Don's name.

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Published in Des Moines Register from Oct. 6 to Oct. 7, 2012