William "Bill" Tjaden

William (Bill) Jelle Tjaden, Jr., age 81, of Jewell, Iowa, passed away Thursday, December 16, 2021, at The University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. He sustained injury to his heart in a car accident that occurred Monday, December 13, 2021 and suffered a traumatic brain injury.

A memorial service was held on Thursday, December 23, at 11:00 am at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell, IA.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Lord's Cupboard at Bethesda Lutheran in Jewell.

For more information and online condolences go to: www.boekefuneralhomes.com.

Boeke Funeral Home of Radcliffe is in charge of arrangements.

Bill was born November 17th, 1940, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Rev. William Jelle and Pearl (Geselbracht) Tjaden. After graduating from Waukon High School in 1958, he went on to Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree. He taught business management for one year in Rockford, Iowa, and then worked for nine years at the local bank. He purchased his insurance agency in 1977 and was an independent agent for Insurance Associates in Clarksville, Iowa, until he passed away. From 1962 to 1964, he was a member of the United States Naval Reserve, stationed in California.

Bill’s first marriage blessed him with two daughters Tamae and Shannon. He married his wife Nancy (Tjernagel) on July 23, 1994, at the Arboretum in Boone, Iowa, with Bill’s uncle, Rev. George Tjaden, officiating. To this union Bill became a devoted stepfather to three more children from her previous marriage, Tim, Calley, and Parker. He and Nancy were married for 27 joyous years and shared their lives at their home in Jewell, Iowa.

Bill stayed happily busy and active his entire life. He was a do-it-yourselfer and always had a project. Food could always be a discussion because Bill was a self-taught chef, kitchen gadget aficionado, and cabinet-collapsing cookbook collector. He had a lifelong love of travel, hunting, and fishing. Bill also took trips to Canada with his family and friends from high school who fished together yearly for 60 years. Bill held the position of State Youth Exchange Coordinator for the Iowa Lions for 20 years. During those 20 years, he facilitated European travel to Iowa high school students and allowed countless youth and his family the opportunity to see why he held traveling so dear to his heart. Bill and Nancy also hosted several teens from around the world at their home as part of the Youth Exchange. It was an enriching experience for all involved.

Bill had a generous, caring, and empathetic heart and was always looking to help those less fortunate or those in need. He was a silent angel who thanklessly helped so many, whether donating coats to the men’s homeless shelter, donating food to local food banks, or simply offering his time and skill to be of assistance.

He is survived by his wife Nancy; daughters Tamae (James) Longoria, Shannon (Jon) Plum and children Liam, Henry, and Margot; stepchildren Tim (Elicia) Watson and children Charlotte and Meredith, Calley (Scott) Rohloff and children Jaxson and Jetta, Parker Watson; brother David (Carol) Tjaden; mother-in-law Doris Tjernagel; and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Rev. William and Pearl Tjaden, brother Calvin Tjaden and his beloved black lab MacGuyver.