Gary S. Tyykila

** Friends and family are invited to a Memorial Service for Gary S. Tyykila on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu.  Visitation starts at 12:00 with a 1:00 service.   Hope Lutheran requires guests to wear a mask.  A meal and celebration will be held at Poplar Golf Course beginning at 3:00 p.m.* *

On Saturday, November 28, a very special man left us and things of this earth to join his family and friends in heaven.  Gary Swen Tyykila of Brule, Wisconsin lost his life at Essentia Health in Duluth at the age of 75.  He fought valiantly to remain on this earth, but it wasn’t meant to be, and ultimately, he died from an aggressive cancerous tumor in his liver with complications of COVID.

Gary was born on December 1, 1944, in Superior, Wisconsin, to his parents Verner (Swen) Tyykila and Laura (Karna)Tyykila of Maple, Wisconsin.  Gary attended Northwestern High School where he met his first wife, Sandy Sedin.  They were married in 1964 and raised two daughters in Poplar, Wisconsin.  Early on Gary worked for Great Lake Storage in Superior and always spoke fondly of his experiences there.  He also worked for Grube Trucking in Poplar as a part-time job. Gary was a member of the Poplar Village Board for many years.  However, he spent most of his working life employed as a truck driver for the Douglas County Highway Department.  He left the department with great respect for his co-workers and would keep in touch with the “County Boys” over the years.  When he retired from Douglas County, Gary drove truck for Dean’s Trucking of Superior.  During his final work years, Gary took very seriously his caretaking duties for two families on the Brule River where he would do grass cutting and snow plowing. Over the years Gary was a member of the Waino Riders Snowmobile Club, Poplar Lions Club, Brule River Lions Club, and Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu.

In 1987, Gary met his second wife, Diana (Johnson) Tyykila.  The couple felt an immediate connection through their parents and Finnish heritage. Gary and Diana married on August 10, 1991at Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu.  The joining of these two families was the joy of both sets of parents.  Gary and Diana were married 29 years where they lived all of their married life north of Brule.  The corner plot was always admired by passerby’s who complimented Gary’s effort in landscaping the property. “Many times, he was told it “looked like a park!”   Gary took great pride in his John Deere tractor, which he had recently acquired.  Love of farm equipment was always a part of Gary’s life.  Another huge part of Gary’s life was his love for animals.  Several dogs/cats were always a part of the family. Gary was the “Pied Piper” around the yard, where any beloved pets would follow him wherever he would go on the property.  Gary spent much time and money taking care of the wild animals as well.  Winter found numerous trails around the property that led to bird feeders and feeding spots for deer, wild turkeys, birds, and any wild animal who was fortunate enough to enter the land.

Gary Swen Tyykila of Brule, Wisconsin was a well-known, well-liked, friendly guy who always greeted someone he knew with his generous smile and piercing blue eyes. He would often open a conversation with the words “keeping busy?”  Another one of his favorite sayings was “I had a goooood time” after a night on the town.  Gary also had a soft spot for the elderly in the area.  From the time he was a young boy, he would enjoy visiting the elderly in their homes or in the nursing home.

There was a mischievous side to Gary in that he loved to tease, especially his six sisters and numerous nieces.  However, they were always greeted and left with the biggest “bear hug”.  Being the only brother/uncle Gary was adored by his family of two daughters, six sisters, and many nieces and nephews.  Phone calls were a big part of Gary’s life.  Daily phone calls to his daughters became a ritual, especially to his daughter Kelly who lives in Superior.  He was known to leave long, elaborate messages, guessing what the other person was up to when they didn’t answer their phone, part of his teasing nature.

Besides, his wife Diana, Gary is survived by his two daughters:  Laurie (Dan) Garay of Lake Nebagamon, WI; and Kelly Tyykila of Superior, WI; step children Julie (Juan) Rodriguez of Fernley, NV; Darrin (Annette) Johnson of South Range, WI, Christopher Johnson of Port Wing, WI and Jeremie (Amy) Johnson of Green Bay, WI.  Gary is also survived by six sisters:  Myrna (Wilbert) Heckman of Stewartsville, MO; Darlene (Tim) Nevin of Poplar, WI; Donna (Mark) Lambert of Amery, WI; Jayne Tuura (Marvin Kittleson) of Oulu/Iron River, WI; Cheryle (Keith) Jardine of Poplar, WI; and Janine (Gary) Carlson of Brule, WI.  Gary is also survived by a brother-in-law, Randy (Julie) Johnson of Iron River, WI; sister-in-law Kaye Johnson of Iron River, WI; and sister-in-law Doris Johnson of Wawautosa, WI.  Gary is also survived by his grandchildren:  Lindsay (Michael) Doescher of Wausau, WI; Ryan (Mikala) Garay of Lake Nebagamon, WI; Justin Hase of Superior, WI; Jaidyn Hase of Superior, WI; great grandchildren Broden Garay and Briggs Garay of Lake Nebagamon, WI.  Gary is also survived by two aunties, Bertha Mikkola of Maple and Mary Ann (Rodney) Lahti of Oulu/Iron River.  Gary is also survived by 10 step grandchildren Christian, Luke, Nicolas, Kristopher, Anthony, Calyndria, Kieran, Emmett, Aleck and Linnea.  Gary is God Father to three nieces:  Katie Graveson, Lindsey Dietrich, and Jenna Steger.

The loved ones in heaven Gary has reunited with are:  His parents Laura and Verner Tyykila, brother Denny Tyykila, his father and mother-in-law Arne (Walt) Johnson and Ailie Johnson, brothers-in-law Larry Johnson and Ronald (Cook) Johnson, son-in-law Ken Hase, mother-in-law, Laura Sedin, and brother-in-law David Sedin.

Friends and family are invited to a Memorial Service on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu.  Visitation starts at 12:00 with a 1:00 service.   Hope Lutheran requires guests to wear a mask.  A meal and celebration will be held at Poplar Golf Course beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Cremation services are being provided by Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 East 5 ^th Street, Superior. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit our website at www.lenroot-maetzold.com .