Thomas Kiehne

Dr. Thomas Howard Kiehne, 74, of Jackson, formerly of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, passed away suddenly Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Jackson.

He was born Aug. 20, 1944, in St. Louis, the only child of Howard and Dorothy Goehring Kiehne. His father, Howard, was killed in the line of duty Feb. 28, 1945, during World War II in the European Theater. His mother later married Raymond W. Willer, and two children were born to their union, David and Jane. Thomas and Mary Louise Weber were married Aug. 29, 1965, in Altenburg, Missouri. Two sons were born to their union, Grant and Chad.

He was a 1962 graduate of Jackson High School, where he was active in the band program. He received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri, where he was a trombone player in Marching Mizzou. He then received a master’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri and a doctorate degree in education from Saint Louis University.

His career included band director, music director and assistant principal at the Bayless and Mehlville school districts in St. Louis. He then became principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent of the Ste. Genevieve R-II School District. Tom was the personnel manager and director of labor relations at Mississippi Lime Co. for 10 years. Following his retirement, Tom became the principal of Saxony Lutheran High School and later a graduate instructor in the Education Department at Southeast Missouri State University.

Since returning to Jackson, Tom was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson and an avid supporter of St. Paul Lutheran School and Saxony Lutheran High School. He was baptized at Emmaus Lutheran Church in St. Louis and confirmed at Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson.

Loving survivors include his wife of nearly 54 years, Mary Kiehne of Jackson; two sons, Grant (Jan) Kiehne of Windsor, Connecticut, and Chad (Amy) Kiehne of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, Noah Michael Kiehne, Aron Christopher Kiehne, Madeline Pearl Kiehne and Wesley Thomas Kiehne; a brother, David Willer of Jackson; a sister, Jane (Dennis) Wessel of Gordonville; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, his mother (Nov. 30, 2009) and his stepfather (May 23, 1995).

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and from 9 a.m. to service time Wednesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Church, with the Rev. Eric Longman officiating. Burial will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg, Missouri.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Saxony Lutheran High School or the donor’s choice of church or charity.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.