Frederick Henry William Tietjen was born on July 15, 1928, in rural Byron to John Emil Tietjen and Leona Ernestine Martha (Hoops) Tietjen. He was named after his three living great grandfathers - Harmon Frederick Grueber, Henry Tietjen, and William Hoops. He was baptized on July 29, 1928, at St. John Lutheran Church near Byron and confirmed on March 29, 1942, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bruning. He started 1st grade at Cracker Box School near Byron but completed 2nd through 7th grades in Bruning due to his father's employment. When the family moved back to Byron he finished 8th grade at the Cracker Box School. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and remained as a member until the church closed. He then transferred his membership to St. Peter Lutheran of Byron.
Frederick passed away in the arms of his loving wife on Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Hebron, NE.
At a young age, Frederick started farming with his dad and soon discovered that John Deere ran in the blood of his family. In his twenties, he set up machinery for his Uncle Edwin at Tietjen Implement in Byron and in his much later years enjoyed dismantling them. He bought his first John Deere tractor during this time.
Frederick spent many hours at the bowling alley with numerous friends in many leagues and enjoyed participating in state bowling tournaments.
Frederick was a pioneer member of the American Polled Hereford Association and raised top quality cattle until the early 90's. With the encouragement of his good friend Willard "Spud" Kuhlmann of North Platte he showed Polled Herefords at the Mid-West Show and Sale in Deshler and also at the National Western Show and Sale in Denver, CO.
On June 5, 1966, he married Carolyn Ann Meyer at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Stoddard. To this union, 6 children were born: Brian, Lyle, James, Janell, Steven, and Eric.
The children remember attending numerous pancake feeds with their father as he was a Charter member of the Byron Lions Club.
Due to his passion for livestock, Frederick spent every Friday working at the sale barn in Belleville during the eighties. He also enjoyed working with the boys on Saturday's at the pig sales.
He also served as a 4-H leader for the Byron Livestock 4-H Club from roughly 1962 until 1987. He was a huge supporter of his children showing cattle, pigs, and lambs at the county fair. As a family, they enjoyed traveling to the State Fair to watch the boys show pigs. In later years he continued attending many county fairs to watch his grandchildren show animals. He was extremely proud to be a part of his kids and grandkids accomplishments.
Frederick started driving a bus in 1980 for Chester-Hubbell and then Chester-Hubbell-Byron (CHB) school district until the school closed in 2000. Some of his fondest memories of driving bus included sponsoring two of his children's senior sneaks, sporting events and the State Fair for his children. Frederick continued driving the bus for Thayer Central Community School district until the age of 80 so he could spend time with his grandchildren on the daily route and loved driving to their sporting events; especially their track meets.
Frederick was a long time caretaker of St. John Cemetery-Byron as well as St. Paul Cemetery-Stoddard where his kids unwilling helped him mow. Even after the kids were grown he continued mowing them faithfully until 2015.
Singing and listening to music was always a past-time of Fredericks and that is what enticed him to join the Thayer County Chorale that performed in numerous churches during the Christmas and Easter seasons. He thoroughly enjoyed singing with wonderful new friends.
Frederick was a very faithful and loving husband, father and grandfather that always put his family first. His grandchildren will forever remember the memories of riding on the fender of the tractor to feed cattle, spending time at the farm jumping on the hay bales, collecting tadpoles, riding horses and the 4-wheeler, playing in the tree fort, and grandpa looking for the girl in green basketball shoes on the court. And finally... spending hours watching, "Wheel of Fortune" and playing UNO with grandpa in his overalls!
He was preceded in death by his parents: John and Leona Tietjen (Ludwig), father-in-law and mother-in-law Alvin and Esther Meyer and brothers-in-law Marvin Schlueter and Dennis Meyer.
Survivors include his wife Carolyn Tietjen, sister Henrietta Schlueter of Hardy NE, brother Edgar and his wife Beulah Tietjen of Hardy NE, sister Ernestine and husband Beauford Hoyer of Superior NE, sister Margaret and husband Don Hoffmeyer of Lincoln NE, sister Lola and husband Dick Schlichtman of Fairbury NE, and sister Linda and husband Wes Oestreich of Lincoln NE and numerous nieces and nephews.
Son Brian and wife Brenda Tietjen of Raymond, NE and children Anisha, Evan and Emma Tietjen; son Lyle and wife Tracy Tietjen of Hebron, NE and children Kinsey and husband Aaron Bohling and McKenna; son James and wife Jennifer Tietjen of Waverly, NE and children Colter and Judson; daughter Janell and husband Eric Miller of Lincoln NE and children Jacob and Kendra; son Steven and wife Jana Tietjen of Hebron NE and children Tarryn and fiancé David Moss, Cheyanna, and Buchannan; son Eric and wife Stephanie Tietjen of Lincoln NE and children Elle, Bayleigh and Brecken. Sister in law Kathryn Kirkland, Arvada, CO, brother in law, Dean Meyer of Hebron, NE, and brother in law, Gerald and wife Bert Meyer of Bennet, NE.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, Grace Lutheran Church, Hebron, NE.
Committal will be at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, of Stoddard, rural Hebron, NE, at 2:00 PM
Memorials are suggested in Lieu of flowers to the family's choice. Friends may call on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, from 1 PM to 8 PM at Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS, where the family will receive friends from 6 PM to 8 PM.
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS in charge of arrangements.