Wayne Erwin Tietyen was peacefully called to his heavenly home on October 2, 2025, after a brief battle with cancer. He was surrounded by the love of his family in his final moments—a reflection of the life he lived: full of faith, devotion, joy, and deep connection.

Born in Gillett, Wisconsin, Wayne entered the world as the youngest child of Marven and Frieda Tietyen (née Zahn), with four older sisters to lovingly keep him in line. He spent his early years on the family farm, where he learned the values of hard work, humility, and gratitude. The family later moved to Milwaukee, where Wayne attended Mount Calvary Lutheran School and Milwaukee Lutheran High School. He earned his undergraduate degree at UW-Whitewater and went on to earn his master's degree in business administration from UW-Milwaukee, becoming a licensed CPA, building a career marked by hard work and integrity.

While in college, Wayne met the love of his life, Sibyl Graese. Their bond blossomed into a beautiful partnership that spanned 62 years—59 of them in marriage. Together, they raised three children, and Wayne poured his heart into fatherhood with unwavering love and pride. He was a devoted husband, father, Opa, brother, uncle, and great-uncle, whose presence brought comfort and laughter to all who knew him.

Wayne's joy for life was infectious. He was quick with a joke, a clever remark, or a warm smile that could light up any room. His sense of humor and kindness were his trademarks, and people were naturally drawn to his easygoing spirit. You could often find Wayne entertaining his children in their youth, or his grandchildren in more recent years, with one of his legendary stories. His vivid imagination and knack for storytelling made every tale an adventure, whether it was a humorous account from his childhood or a tale about long lost treasures, spirits or quests. These stories have become cherished family memories, that have been and will continue to be retold at gatherings for years to come. He cherished time with family—whether traveling, reading history books, coaching, cheering at sporting events, or simply sharing stories around the dinner table.

One of Wayne's greatest passions was his hobby farm in Glenbeulah, where he and Sibyl lived and raised their family for 42 years. The farm was a place of celebration and memory-making, especially during the barn dances that became treasured family traditions. Wayne found joy in the little things—he noticed and appreciated the love and effort others gave, and he never missed a chance to express his gratitude.

Above all, Wayne was proud of his family. He was a devoted family man and everything he did was in support of them. He spoke often and openly about how much they meant to him, and his legacy lives on in the laughter, love, and stories they continue to share.

Wayne is survived by his beloved wife, Sibyl Tietyen (née Graese); his children Danielle (Brock) Behling, Amanda (Shawn) Urban, and Andrew (Ashley) Tietyen; and his cherished grandsons Brodan, Decker, Oliver, Macklin, and Will, whom he loved and adored. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Webster and Karen (Rod) White, along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marven and Frieda Tietyen, his sisters Elaine (Dennis) Kranz and Eileen (Chuck) Bessette, and his brother in-law, James Webster.

Wayne's witty sayings, larger-than-life stories, generous heart, and joyful spirit will be deeply missed—but never forgotten.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 11th, at First Immanuel Lutheran Church, W67N622 Evergreen Blvd., Cedarburg, WI. Visitation will be held from 9:00am to 11:00am, with services to follow. A luncheon will be held after the service, followed by burial at Wisconsin Memorial Park. A celebration of life will take place after the burial, with details to be provided on the day of the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in by check or cash in Wayne's honor to Zion Lutheran Church in Glenbeulah, WI or to support the Lakota Sioux Indians. Please use the link below:

https://give.stjo.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1740&1740.donation=form1&s_src=memorial-pg&autologin=true