Michael Earl Tyler 1952-2012

TYLER MELHAM SKIFF

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/26/2012 at 19:01:56

Sioux City Journal
April 28, 2012

SIOUX CITY -- Michael Earl Tyler, 59, of Kempner, Texas, formerly of Sioux City, passed away unexpectedly Monday, April 16, 2012, at Metroplex Health System in Killeen, Texas.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. As a veteran, he will receive a full military rites for his service during the Vietnam War. Online condolences may be offered to the family at https://www.facebook.com/InMemoryOfMichaelETyler.

Mike was born in Des Moines to Gaylord and Donna (Melham) Tyler, on August 29, 1952. He attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Des Moines, and enlisted in the U.S. Army at just 17 years old. He served his country during the Vietnam War. Upon returning home, he studied at Iowa State University and graduated in 1979 with a double major in anthropology and social work.

While at Iowa State, he met his future wife, Cindy (Skiff) Tyler, whom he married on Jan. 22, 1983, at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They moved to Carlisle, Iowa, to begin their life together and had two children. Mike worked for Waste Management in Des Moines for many years before transferring to their Sioux City location. He then went on to work at Sabre Industries for more than 15 years but was forced to retire early due to health complications. He moved to Texas in an effort to escape the Iowa weather and to improve his overall health.

An avid reader, Mike enjoyed reading almost as much as he enjoyed his food. He liked to keep up on current events in between novels, and frequently shared his political views with others. Although retired, he remained very active, and did a lot of volunteer work with veterans in the Killeen area. He was anxiously awaiting the arrival of his first grandchild.

Mike is survived by his wife, Cindy (Skiff) Tyler of Sioux City; daughter, Nakia Tyler of Sioux City; son, Ry (Amarilis) Tyler of Sioux City; granddaughter, Ariyah Tyler De Leon of Sioux City; mother, Donna (Gerald) Melham of Kempner, Texas (formerly of Sioux City); sister, Carolyn (Joe) Carroll-Gonzalez of Kempner; nieces, Tiesa (Mike) Hollaway, Tasha Carroll, Danielle Kannan, Alexis Carroll, Gabrielle (Kyle) Thomas; nephew, Rudy (Amanda) Carroll; and many beloved relatives in the Des Moines area