Thomas Jefferson "T.J." Berdo, age 89, of Washington, Iowa, died Monday, November 26, 2012 at the Halcyon House following a brief illness.

Celebration of life services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, December 15, 2012 at the United Methodist Church in Washington with Pastor Jim Stiles officiating. Military honors will be conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29. Visitation will be held from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m., Saturday, December 15th, at the United Methodist Church. Private family interment will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery at a later date. Memorials have been established for the United Methodist Church, the Washington Public Library or the Halcyon House Library. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent for T.J.'s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

T.J. was born June 18, 1923 in Washington, Iowa the son of Henry E. and Ruth Mary (Armstrong) Berdo. He graduated from Washington High School in 1941 and attended Washington Jr. College. Following his time in the service, he graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelors Degree in Economics. He later received his Masters Degree from the University of Iowa in 1949. On August 31, 1944 T.J. was united in marriage to Georganne Rudiger in Washington, Iowa.

T.J. was a Veteran of World War II serving in the United States Army. He was a teacher for the Washington Community School District for twenty five years retiring in 1985. He previously taught at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin and taught and served as Principal at Ainsworth Community Schools. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Washington, a fifty year member of the Washington Masonic Lodge, KAABA Shrine, and Delta Pi Epsilon Honorary Business Fraternity. He was a lifetime member of the Iowa State Education Association and the National Education Association. T.J. was selected the outstanding Business Education Teacher in the State of Iowa.

He is survived by daughter, Sue Stannard of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Stone and husband Pat of Snohomish, Washington; son, Tom Berdo and wife Bertie of North Liberty, Iowa; five grandchildren; two great grandchildren and one sister, Mary Ruth Siemon of Watertown, Connecticut.

T.J. was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Georganne; and one brother, Robert Berdo.