Thomas J. Jochum

Des Moines - Thomas "Tom" Joseph Jochum was born to Alfred and Lolita (Schmitt) Jochum on December 25, 1951 and died November 9, 2020. Tom grew up in Dubuque Iowa and attended Sacred Heart Parish and Wahlert High School. In his early life he attended Loras College, worked for John Deere and married Mary Pamela Hingtgen, with whom he had his first child, Sarah Noel Jochum. Sarah's intellectual disability encouraged Tom to get into politics to fight for people like her. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1975 and served for 18 years, where he fought for the rights and needs of underrepresented people. He later went on to work as Executive Director of the ARC to continue the fight in protecting the rights of Iowans with disabilities. In 1991, he got remarried to Amy (Ward) Jochum. The two of them had four children, Samuel Anthony, Jacob Ward, Anna Beth, and Isabel Marie. Tom loved being a father above all else and was very involved and supportive in all five of his children's lives. His career in the Iowa House and ARC eventually lead him to start a political consulting and lobbying business. In his long career he worked with many different groups such as the LGBTQ community, The Meskwaki Tribe and Iowa Unions, to ensure their rights, but all the people and causes he helped are much too numerous to list.

Tom is survived by his wife, Amy; sons, Sam (Bonnie Hiscox) and Jack; daughters, Anna and Izzy; sisters, Geri (Paul) O'Connor, Connie (Ken) Bennett, Donna Sindahl, and Kim (Dale) Klinkhammer; his brothers, Ron (Helen) Schmitt and Steve Jochum; mother-in-law, Carole Ward; Sarah's mother, Pam Jochum; brothers and sisters-in-law, Kathy and Jim Schauwecker, Jim and Nancy Ward, Andy and Danielle Ward, Sarah and Todd Simpson; many, many, many nieces and nephews and "Best Friend" dog, Buster.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; his beloved daughter, Sarah; his sister, Joyce Monahan and brothers-in-law, Mike Monahan and John Sindahl; his brother, Richard Dale Jochum; his sister- in- law, Freda Jochum; father-in-law, John Ward; and his nieces, Jessica Bennett and Elizabeth Klinkhammer.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 13 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Des Moines. Masks are requested and seating is limited due to distancing requirements. The service will begin live-streaming at 10:15 a.m. Friday from www.IlesCares.com.

In lieu of flowers Tom would like donations to be made to Camp Sunnyside, Holy Trinity Church, or the Iowa Democratic Party.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by the Des Moines Register from Nov. 10 to Nov. 11, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Jochum

Sponsored by Iles Westover Chapel.

5 Entries

Michael W Connolly

November 4, 2021

Tom Jochum was a great legislator. He chaired the powerful Appropriations committee in the House and used his power to help those most in need. He never forgot where he came from. He also was a good friend and fellow legislator. He had a wonderful sense of humor and we shared many good times playing poker at the Gene and Dorothy Kennedy's Tuesday night get together. I wish I could have visited with him before his passing. I did not know he was so ill. Like his family and friends, I miss him. He truly made a difference for many of those in need. Farewell and Rest in Peace.

Ed Fallon

November 14, 2020

Tom, my friend, you will be missed. I’ve enjoyed our conversations during these last few months when your cancer became known. So sorry you had to leave us this early in the journey. I appreciate the good work we did together during the last few years, and will treasure many things about our friendship. Safe travels. - Ed Fallon

Kim Schneden

November 13, 2020

My most sincere sympathies to the Jochum family. While I didn’t know him a long time, he was a friend, and I have missed chatting back and forth. He was a good human being, and I trust he and Sarah are out driving around with the music playing. Bless you all.

Mike Connolly

November 13, 2020

A champion for the disadvantaged, a great lawmaker and a good friend. It was a joy to work with him in the Iowa House or Representatives in the 1980's. Rest in peace, Tom

Mike Connolly
State Senator, Dubuque (Retired)