Tyrus "Ty" Raymond Fideler

A memorial fund has been established by the family with the Spencer Family YMCA.  More information can be found at www.spencerymca.org.  To make a donation, check or money order may be mailed to:
Spencer Family YMCA
P.O. Box 212
Spencer, IA  51301

Tyrus Raymond Fideler was born April 11, 1929, in Remsen, IA, the son of Sylvester and Clothilda Nothem Fideler.

     Always early and with an innate love of family, he convinced his parents to let him enroll in first grade at the age of four because all of his older cousins were starting. He attended and graduated from Remsen St. Mary’s Catholic School, received his undergraduate degree from Westmar College in LeMars and his DDS degree from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1953. He made a (bowling ball) mark in Iowa City at the Delta Sig house, waited tables at the Kappa house, took care of the boiler at the Newman Catholic Center and cheered on the Hawkeyes with popcorn, Frank Sinatra and the “Champagne of Bottled Beer”, Miller High Life, at The Airliner.

     Post college he immediately was drafted and served as a dentist in the Korean War. Ty’s paternal nature was already shining as he took in a young Korean boy named Kim whose family had been killed in the conflict and continued to support Kim long after Ty returned to the U.S. The war spurred a lifelong interest in the TV show MASH.

     After the war Ty moved to Spencer, IA where he created his dental practice. His younger brother, Mike, also a dentist, soon joined the practice where they worked side by side for over 40 years on Grand Avenue.

     Ty was at the Club Debonair in LeMars on February 9, 1957 and asked a cute young gal named Joan Clark from Sioux City to dance. Once he took Joan’s hand he never let it go. They married soon thereafter and started their life together in Spencer. They formed a dear group of friends whom they danced with at LaDanza on Saturday nights, played in bridge clubs, bowling leagues, four-ball eightsome golf nights, cocktail parties, down-hill ski clubs taking train trips to Aspen, golf trips with his buddies and more. 

     Ty and Joan had five children: Jeff, Kim, John, Clark and Cathy. They journeyed together to ballparks, amusement parks, the YMCA, Okoboji, ISU and Iowa football games, skiing in Colorado and even an appearance on the TV show Family Feud (although not victorious they were able to spend time with their California cousins, the Weidenfelds, which was a huge win!). He was happy that most of these experiences also included the Wards, Clarks, Mike Fidelers, Moronys, other family and/or friends, and was thrilled (even though he sometimes said yee-gads) when the rooms of 1917 West 11th were filled to the brim.

     Ty picked up a golf club at the age of 25 and played as often as he could. In 1971 he built a home for his family (with dear friend John Galvin as architect) on the new golf course in Spencer between the 3rd and 7th tee boxes so he could easily play a few holes after work, most often with his son, Clark, his friend, Norm Vandehaar or his brother Mike. He had FOUR holes-in-one (one on a par 4!), a driver for a man twice as tall and arguably the fastest golf cart on the course.

     Ty fathered five children but was a “dad” to countless others. He was consistent in everything, mostly his resolute love of God and his Catholic faith, his daily rosary, family and making time to be with the people he loved. He was humble, funny, wise and gentle. He led by example and now we are counting on him to continue to gently guide us with his unwavering encouragement from heaven. 

    Ty had a stroke on January 15th, 2019 and was surrounded by family at Sioux Fall’s Sanford Hospital & Ava’s Hospice House for lots of stories, laughter, tears and cheers before he went to heaven on January 22, 2019. Proceeded in death by his parents; sister, Darlene and her husband, Jim Morony; brother- and sister-in-law Bob and Mary Clark; brother-in-law Smilin’ Dave Brownley; brother-in-law John Weidenfeld; nephew Tom Wiedenfeld; nephew-in-law John Schulte and grandnephew Clark Schulte. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of more than 60 adventure-filled years, Joan; children Jeff, Kim & husband Kevin Robinson, John, Clark, and Sheba (Cathy) & husband Darren Ennis; grandchildren Jay, Kyle and Lauren Robinson; Jake and Jordan Fideler; Michael, Madeleine and Gabrielle Pope.

     We love you, Tyrone.

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