Tommy "Tom" Hugh Schacht

Tommy “Tom” H. Schacht 75, of St. Paul, died on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Interment will be held at the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Pastor Steven Neal will be officiating.

Visitation will be from 5-9 P.M. on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the St. Paul Civic Center.  In lieu of flowers, memorials will be designated by the family at a later date.  Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting the family.

Tom was born on July 3, 1948, to Vernon and LuVane (Nagel) Schacht in Canton, South Dakota.  He was raised in northwest Iowa near Inwood where he attended West Lyon Community School District, graduating in 1967.  He received his bachelor’s degree at Sioux Falls College (University of Sioux Falls) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he participated in football, basketball, and baseball. He continued his education at Kearney State College in Kearney, Nebraska where he earned his master’s degree in physical education.

Tom was united in marriage to Linda Kleinjan on June 6, 1970, in Edgerton, Minnesota They lived in St. Paul where they raised their 2 girls, Sally and Shannon.  He coached cross country, basketball, and track throughout his life and taught physical education for 36 years.  He was the true definition of a COACH, “someone that sees beyond your limits and guides you to greatness.”  Coach Tom had a profound impact on the careers of many young athletes and will be greatly missed by the numerous lives he touched!

Tom was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul.  Although he loved coaching, his greatest enjoyment in life was spending time with his family, especially his 4 grandsons.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Linda Schacht of St. Paul; daughters and son-in-law, Sally and Jason Meinecke of St. Paul, Shannon Boehle of Grand Island; grandsons, Ashton Meinecke of St. Paul, Bryce Boehle of Grand Island, Alex Meinecke of St. Paul, and Ryan Boehle of Grand Island; brothers, Terry Schacht of Oregon, Gary Schacht of Iowa, Jim Schacht of Oregon, and Rick Schacht of Iowa.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and LuVane; and special cousin, Karen.