Jack Tianen, age 85, passed away in his sleep on the morning of October 23, 2008 in Sedro-Woolley, WA.
Jack was born in Detroit, MI on March 12, 1923, the son of John Tianen, of Pihtipda, Finland and Selina Friskey of Calumet, MI. Jack graduated from Detroit Central High School in June 1941.
Jack served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force and was a highly decorated WWII hero with a Bronze Arrowhead with one Silver Service Star and two Bronze Service stars for his participation in the Normandy Campaign and the European African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Sicily and Tunisia and a Belgian Fourragere medal. Jack retired from active duty service January 1, 1968 at the rank of Tech Sergeant.
Jack completed his Associates’ Degree in 1951 with the University of Maryland by taking correspondence courses.
In 1953, Jack married Hilda Susie Barth in Wiesbaden, Germany. Jack and Susie had three sons Peter, Mick and John. The Tianens’ moved to Holly, Michigan in 1968, which remained their home until 1984. Jack worked for the US Postal Service as a letter carrier in Flint, Michigan until he retired from Civil Service in 1983. From 1984 to 1993 Jack and Susie managed the Crossroads Motel in Oak Harbor, WA. In 1993, Jack and Susie finally retired and moved t o Sedro-Woolley, WA. Susie passed away on November 23, 1999 in Mount Vernon, WA at the age of 74.
Jack is survived by three sons, Peter Tianen of Oak Harbor, WA, Mike and his wife Susan Tianen of Santa Clarita, CA, and John Tianen of Sedro-Woolley, WA; two grandchildren; Danika Joy Hertz and her husband Devin of Santa Clarita, CA, and Kenneth Scott Tianen and his wife Heather of Bakersfield, CA; six great-grandchildren, Morgan, Makenna, Myca, and Mesa Hertz, and Sarra and Ethan Tianen; and his brother Carl Tianen and his wife Doris of Bad Axe, Michigan.
Memorial services were held on Tuesday October 28th, 2008 at 11:00AM at the Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley, WA with Pastor Walt Rice of Bethlehem Lutheran Church officiating. The Interment of Jack and Susie will be November 14, 2008 at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI with military honors.