A record-setting college athlete in the 1930s, a veteran of World War II and a longtime businessman in Omaha, Frederick "Tip" Tyler lived a full life.
"He did more things in his lifetime than three people would do," said his son, Steve Tyler of Omaha.
Tip Tyler, 96, died Monday at Brookstone Meadows, where he had been staying since he broke his leg in October.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the community room of Pacific Springs Village, 805 S. 173rd Court.
Tyler was born and raised in Shenandoah, Iowa. He graduated from Omaha University (now the University of Nebraska at Omaha), where he was on the football, baseball, track and wrestling teams.
Tyler was a quarterback on the 1934 and 1935 teams that won 11 straight games. He was the North Central Conference 120-yard high hurdles champion three straight seasons. He was inducted into the UNO Hall of Fame in 1980.
He was hoping to compete in track events at the 1936 Olympics when a muscle injury prevented him from going to Berlin.
In the Army, Tyler led reconnaissance missions as a first lieutenant attached to Gen. George Patton's Third Army in Europe. Tyler was awarded the Bronze Star for leading his company and a tank platoon in the 1945 capture of an airfield held by the Germans.
Shortly after the war he started a sales promotion business in Omaha, serving such clients as Tip Top, Pamida and Sidles Co. He then worked in marketing for Northern Natural Gas from the early 1960s until his retirement in the mid-1970s.
Tyler enjoyed hunting, fishing and golf in his free time.
Besides his son, Tyler's survivors include his daughter, Cathy Vanderpool of Costa Mesa, Calif., and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1052, jane.palmer@owh.com
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