Anthony K. Tysdal

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved father, Anthony Tysdal, (Tony the Tiger) who died of natural causes on September 15, 2017 at 80 years old.

Tony loved nothing better than a good building project, and this summer was no different. While working on a garage at his cabin in Colorado, he decided to pick up supplies at Marks (his sons house) in Nebraska. Unfortunately, God had other plans, and Tony barely made it to Omaha before he collapsed. He always said that he wanted to go quickly, and we are thankful that he did not suffer.

Our loving father possessed a larger than life personality, enjoyed spirited conversation, and relished reminiscing about good times. He loved to tinker around the house and could fix anything. He often boasted, "I can fix anything but a broken heart!" Anyone that knew him knew he would always be there to lend a hand. He was blessed with a beautiful singing voice, and even though he had no formal training, it was effortless for him to play the piano, strum the guitar, and play the accordion.

Tony grew up on a cattle ranch in Red Owl, SD. He was the 6th child in a family of 18 brothers and sisters. He married Rose Vig in 1957 and had 4 children. While going to school full time at South Dakota School of Mines (Bachelors in Chemistry, 1961), he worked with Dr. Willard, the founder of Willard Water and took other various jobs to make ends meet for his growing family.

When he graduated, his dream was to be a fighter pilot and although he aced all of the physical and written tests, he was rejected due to his need for corrective lenses. From 1961 to 1963, he traveled extensively and worked on the Titan Defense Missiles. In 1963, he moved the family to Florida and worked as a Senior Chemical Analyst/Quality Engineer during the Apollo and space shuttle programs at Kennedy Space Center. During his retirement, if Tony wasn't busy helping a friend or family member, he devoted his time to building the log cabin of his dreams.

He is predeceased by his parents, Joseph Edmund Tysdal and Helen Kovarik Tysdal, and 8 of his siblings: Betty Sund, Clinton, Russell, Joseph (Joe), Jerome (Jerry), Rudolph (Rudy), Ralph (Ole), and Michael.

He is survived by his ex-wife, Rose Tysdal along with 4 children: Mike, Mark, Michelle Marra and Melanie Rebman, 20 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters: Thomas (Pat), Sally Munger, Mary Jane Lenhard, Peter (Pete), James (Jim), George, John, Sandra (Sandy) Begley, and Candace.

We will have a memorial celebration October 7 at Titusville Garden Club, 5275 Sisson Rd, Titusville, FL, 2 - 5PM.

Another memorial celebration will be held on October 14 in Boulder, CO, starting with a Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas at 2PM and the memorial following from 3 - 8PM. Please email Melanie at [email protected] for additional info. We encourage all of those that knew our father to write a short story and share it here, on his Tony Tysdal Facebook page, at legacy.com, or email above.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to East Coast Christian Center Food Bank, Parkway Worship Center, eccc.us

Funeral Home:
Chapel of Memories
9001 Arbor Street #111
Omaha, NE
United States 68124