John Edward Tieben Sr.
A lifelong resident of Shakopee for 82 years, John Edward Tieben, entered eternal peace on Thursday afternoon, December 18, 2014. His loving family surrounded John’s Marie Stiener Kelting Hospice bedside in Chaska, MN.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 10 am, with visitation starting at 8:30 am, all at The Parish of Saints Joachim and Anne (St. Mark) 350 Atwood Street, Shakopee, MN. Father Eric Lundgren will preside. John’s grandsons will be the urn bearers. Full Military honors will be provided by the Shakopee Veterans Memorial Unit. A private family burial will be at the Shakopee Catholic Cemetery.
On January 20, 1932, in Shakopee, MN, John was born the eldest son to parents, John Herman and Elsie Margaret (Carlson) Tieben. Growing up near Rahr Malting and the train tracks, he began his lifelong fascination with trains, especially after receiving an electric train set from his parents. John attended St. Mark’s Catholic School, and graduated from Shakopee High School in 1949.
In 1951, John enlisted in the United States Army. Unfortunately, he was only able to serve for 1 ½ years, due to the sudden passing of his father. Being the eldest, John needed to return home to help with the family. For 39 years, he worked as a maltster for Rahr Malting in Shakopee.
Through mutual friends, he met a young gal from Robbinsdale, Joann Marie Milford. Their loved flourished and on June 26, 1954, John and Joann married at the Church of St. Mark in Shakopee, MN. They were blessed with seven children, Theresa, John, Jan, Jill, Ken, Brian and Joel. As a family, they enjoyed many family trips to Hackensack, Cass Lake, Howard Lake, Alexandria and other favorite locations. Some of the fondest times John and the kids had were spent wresting on the floor during commercial breaks. Upon the sounds of the fire truck sirens, he and the kids were off in search of the fire. But somehow, they found themselves finding the DQ instead. In later years, John and Joann enjoyed bus tours and train trips.
A love for baseball, John played ball for Rahr Malting as the first baseman. He passed this love on to his sons and coached their Little League and Babe Ruth teams. In John’s free time, he enjoyed participating in men’s and couples bowling leagues, winning many trophies over the years. John was even fortunate to be a contestant on Bowling for Dollars. He also dappled in golf.
A devoted member of the Shakopee Community, John was a former commander and president of the Shakopee American Legion Post #2. He also served as the president for the Shakopee Fraternal Order of Eagles and was a member of the Shakopee Knights of Columbus.
John was a patient, kind and a loving husband, dad and grandpa. He had this quick sense of humor and a photographic memory, as the family’s historian.
Left to honor John’s life and mourn the death is his wife of 60 years, Joann; children, Theresa (Mike) Green, John (Barb) Tieben, Jan (Bruce) Von Bank, Jill (Mike) Wolf, Ken (Kim) Tieben, Brian Tieben, Joel (Jolene) Tieben; 26 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; siblings, Joyce Heitzman, Gene (Jeri) Tieben, Susie (Gary) Inderhus, Donna (Gary) Schmitt; other loving relatives and devoted friends.
Preceded in death and there to welcome John home is his parents, John and Elsie; son-in-law, Mark Schlosser; sister Eleanor (LeRoy) Huth; brother-in-law, Bud Heitzman.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Shakopee Chapel, proudly served and cared for the Tieben family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
