Iowa School Community Mourns Principal Josh Tack, 33, After Tragic Weekend Collision

 The BCLUW Community School District is mourning the death of Josh Tack, a 33-year-old principal whose work in Iowa education placed him at the center of daily life for students, families and colleagues. Tack, of Union, died after sustaining serious injuries in a weekend UTV collision in Dubuque County. His death has brought an overwhelming sense of loss to the school community, where he was known not simply by his professional title, but as an educator who had invested his time and energy in helping young people succeed.

According to information from the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, emergency responders were called to the intersection of East Worthington Road and Comer Road at approximately 9:21 p.m. Saturday following a collision involving a UTV and a car. A 10-year-old child was pronounced dead at the scene. Tack was taken to MercyOne Hospital in Dubuque for treatment, where he later died from injuries sustained in the collision. Several other individuals were hospitalized with injuries described as serious to life-threatening, leaving multiple families facing an extraordinarily difficult period.

For BCLUW students and staff, Tack’s death represents the sudden absence of a familiar school leader. As junior and senior high school principal, he held a position that placed him in regular contact with students navigating important years of their education. Principals often become trusted figures for students and families, helping guide academic decisions, support staff, address challenges and celebrate achievements. Tack’s role allowed him to make those connections every day, creating memories that will remain with members of the school community.

The district announced Tack’s death Monday and asked members of the community to keep his wife, Blake, their children and extended family in their thoughts and prayers. Behind the title of principal was a husband and father whose family is now confronting an immense personal loss. For his wife and children, the days ahead will bring difficult adjustments, while friends, relatives, coworkers and community members seek meaningful ways to offer support and stand beside them during an extraordinarily painful time.

The wider circumstances have made the loss even more difficult for those following the incident. The same collision also claimed the life of a 10-year-old child and left other people hospitalized. Multiple families are therefore dealing with grief, uncertainty and recovery at the same time. As authorities continue examining what happened, the focus for many in the BCLUW community is on caring for those affected and remembering the lives that have been lost rather than allowing the circumstances to overshadow the people behind the tragedy.

Tack’s influence extended beyond the responsibilities associated with his position. His work placed him in a unique position to shape the environment in which students learned, teachers worked and families interacted with the school district. The response from colleagues and community members reflects how deeply such a loss can affect an educational community. When a school leader dies unexpectedly, students and staff must process grief while continuing the routines of school life, making compassion, communication and support especially important in the days ahead.

The investigation into the collision remains ongoing, and authorities are expected to determine the circumstances that led to the UTV and vehicle incident. Funeral and memorial arrangements for Tack were not included in the information provided and should be confirmed through his family or official announcements as details become available. For now, the BCLUW community is left to remember a young educator whose career was devoted to students and whose life included the roles of husband, father, colleague and friend. His legacy will continue through the people he served and the memories he leaves behind.