Tim Tyler
July 14, 1937-May 20, 2008
Taylor "Tim" Tyler, 70, of Plym Road, Niles, MI, died of a brief illness at 11:04 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2008, in Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Saint Joseph.
Tim was born July 14, 1937, in Chicago, IL, to Robert Tyler Sr. and Dortha Marie (Taylor) Tyler. Moving to Niles in 1945 from Glen Ellyn, IL, he graduated from Niles High School in 1955. Tim received his A.B. degree in 1959 from Dartmouth College, and in 1960 from the Dartmouth-Tuck Business School where he earned a master's in business administration. While at Dartmouth, he was a member of the Casque & Gauntlet Society and was affiliated with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
At Fort Knox, KY, Tim served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He began his career as a regional sales manager with Tyler Refrigeration, a company started by his uncle, Jerry Tyler, and one in which his father, Robert Tyler Sr., was chief executive officer. Later, with Terry Linville, Tim formed Tyler-Linville Chevrolet (TLC). He then founded Tyler Automotive of which he was the former president.
Active in many areas, Tim was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He served the Republican Party as a Presidential Advance Man. For over 23 years he was a charter member of the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance and its 1990-92 president, and was currently serving as secretary. He was a former president of the Niles Community Schools Board of Education, was a former chairman of the Niles United Way and served both on Niles and Gateway Community Foundation boards. Tim led a successful Niles-Buchanan YMCA Capital Campaign. Not only was he a former member of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, he also was named their 2005 Man of the Year.
Tim served on both the Lakeland Regional Medical Center's board as well as the Lakeland Foundation-Niles. He was a member of the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club, Signal Point Club, Orchard Hills Country Club and the Captiva Yacht Club. Tim served on several financial boards - American National Bank, Old Kent Bank S.W. and First Federal Savings and Loan.
Involved in businesses across southwestern Michigan in addition to auto dealerships in Niles, Niles Charter Township and Benton Harbor Township (Lake Michigan Honda), he also had interest in Vickers Engineering, Inc., in Weesaw Township, Precision Plastics in Galien Village and Kruger Plastics Products in Lake Charter Township. He was a board member of Littleford Day, Inc., of Florence, KY.
In Fort Thomas, KY, Tim married Marjorie "Midge" (Stegeman) Tyler, who died October 11, 2002. On March 9, 2005, he married Sharon (Witt) Tyler, who survives. Also surviving are his children, Scott (Nancy) Tyler and Jane (Pat) Brandstatter, both of Niles, Chris (Shanna) Tyler of Stevensville, MI, and Matt (Amy) Tyler of Granger, IN. Stepchildren include Joe (Christin) Adams of Saint Joseph and Cody Witt of Niles. Tim has 13 important grandchildren and also is survived by a brother, Thomas Tyler of Venice, FL. A brother, Robert Tyler Jr., preceded him in death.
Memorial services for Taylor "Tim" Tyler will be at noon on Saturday, May 24, 2008, in the First Presbyterian Church in Niles. Private family interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until services time in the Ladies Parlor of the church. Memorials may be made to Gateway Community Foundation Midge Tyler Fund.
The Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles is completing arrangements.