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John Tilden Obituary

John Duncan Tilden, Sr.

John Duncan Tilden, Sr., age 89; "went home" on February 5, 2015 to be with his dear wife, Suzanne, who preceded him on May 4, 1999. He was born on February 5, 1926 in Ames, Iowa to Clark & Dorothy Tilden. Served in the US Army in Co. K, 310 Inf. Reg. 78th Div. and was awarded The Expert Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals and two Battle Stars (Bulge and Rhineland). He is a graduate of Iowa State University and Des Moines University; served an Internship and General Surgical Residency at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital and practiced at Lansing General Hospital until retiring in 1986.

John and Suzanne were blessed with four children Cynthia of Farmington Hills, MI, Susan of St. Louis, MO, John Jr. (Maggie) of Mason, MI and Peter (Trisha) of Zeeland, MI. He loved his seven grandchildren Kate, Luke, Jonathan, Isaac, Sam, Levi and Anna.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 9th 2pm,  at Red Cedar Evangelical Free Church, 550 W Grand River Ave, Okemos, MI 48864. Memorials may be sent to The Gideons International, PO Box 537, Okemos, MI 48805 or to a charity of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lansing State Journal from Feb. 7 to Feb. 9, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for John Tilden

Not sure what to say?





Carol Pickering (nee Schreiber)

February 11, 2015

To the Tilden Family,
I pray for comfort for you all at this time of loss, remember his faith and take comfort that he is with his heavenly father. I know that your parents are now together and are in fellowship with their friends. I know that my parents along with your mother welcomed him with open arms.

February 10, 2015

Dear Sue and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. I am glad I had a chance to meet Dr Tilden. I will always remember her story about cycling the Netherlands.

Thinking of you,
Liz Lowis
-St Louis

Ann (Volz) Parker

February 9, 2015

Dear John & Maggie & family, I'm sorry to see your Dad passed away. God bless you through this time of sorrow & may He comfort you, because your His children & He loves you!

February 9, 2015

I will miss you at Mon A M coffee
Wally Dobler naples Fl

Sue (Keller) McMahon

February 9, 2015

Dear Cynthia, Susan, John and Pete,
I was very sad to learn of your dad's passing. He was a wonderful man who clearly loved and valued the relationship he had with all of you! As my sister already mentioned I too have many fond childhood memories of our families spending time together. Over the past year I was fortunate to join your dad along with my dad for dinner at Coral Gables. Your dad was the perfect host, serving us coffee and dessert at the lake following dinner. ; ) I enjoyed chatting with him; he was a very bright and interesting man, filled with kindness and love, along with a good sense of humor. I know his absence will be felt by many! I can only imagine how difficult losing him must be for each of you. Please know that I'm sending you my prayers filled with love and compassion offering comfort and peace for all the days ahead!
Much love! Sue (Keller) McMahon

Becky & Steve Sullivan

February 9, 2015

Dear Cynthia, Susan, John and Pete,
We are so sorry to hear of your Dad's passing but take comfort in that he had had a good, long life and enjoyed the many blessings of a loving family. You are in our hearts and prayers.

Genny Graham Looker

February 9, 2015

Dear Pete, Sue, and the rest of the family: I'm so sorry to learn of your dad's passing. It is so encouraging to know he was ready to meet up with your mother, and that now he is at peace and without pain. God bless you all,

Robin Keller-Bengal

February 9, 2015

Cynthia, Susan, John and Peter,

I am saddened by the loss of your dad. I will always have fond childhood memories of our two families spending time together at your cottage on Lake Lansing. Although all of us kids went our separate ways, our dads remained great friends, whether it was getting together for coffee every Monday morning with the "Executive Committee", or having dinner together once or twice a week. They shared a very special friendship throughout the years, the kind many never get to experience. I am grateful for that. Your dad was a wonderful man, full of love and compassion. I will keep your entire family in my thoughts and prayers. May God continue to provide comfort and peace during this difficult time, and always.

Jane Turner

February 9, 2015

Dear Sue,

May your memories bring you peace at this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Jane Turner
Rachel's Mom

Jane Turner

February 9, 2015

Dear Sue,

So sorry for your loss. May your memories bring you peace.

Jane Turner
Rachel's Mom from Meadow Ridge
[email protected]

Laura Lazet

February 8, 2015

To the Tilden Family,
Our hearts go out to you at this time of loss. We so enjoyed Dr. Tilden -- so kind, caring, upright, and a wonderful role model. Our lives were richer for having known him. Praying God's peace and sustaining grace for you through this time.
with love, John & Laura Lazet

February 8, 2015

The loss of John Tilden will leave a void in the community and his family. He was a humble, God loving person who put others first. It was our pleasure to have known him, his wife and son's family during the past 20 years or more. We would like to express our condolences to the larger Tilden family.

Ross and Inky Beach (Fruitport, MI)

Dona Vogel

February 8, 2015

Tilden family,
As you know your Mom and Dad were loved and respected by so many! Your Dad often asked about our son Jim, a fighter pilot in the Air Force! He would pray for him so often. We appreciated his concern for our family. We are so sorry we are out of town and will not be able to attend the memorial. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. In Christ's love, Dona and Paul Vogel

Steven Freemire

February 8, 2015

To the entire Tilden Family

I never had the pleasure of meeting Dr Tilden. I have had the pleasure of knowing his son John. I an a firm believer that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. That being said he was a man of the utmost integrity, moral character, compassion for his fellow man and vast intellect as these are some of the many attributes he has passed on to his son John. We only get to know our heavenly father but thru his son.
My prayers of healing and comfort go out to John and the entire Tilden family.
I am very sorry for your loss. But hope you find comfort in knowing he is with his heavenly father, healed, happy and beaming with joy.

Judy Cooke-Merrihew

February 7, 2015

My sympathy to his family. I used to work for Dr. Tilden in his office back in 1966-67 prior to my move to the West Coast, one of the hardest things to leave in Michigan was working for him. He was an awesome boss, a great surgeon and a devoted Christian. He was an outstanding inspiration to me, kind, talented, helpful and a tremendous example of what a Christian man should be. In his Christmas letter this past December he stated that he would soon be going home and how excited he was to meet Jesus. I didn't know it would be this soon. Praise God that we KNOW where he is and much as he will be missed, we can't wish him back from the glorious home he now has. . It was an honor to have known him and especially to have worked for him watching his God given talent in action. He loved his family and he always talked about his children with tenderness. He will be missed and never forgotten.

Bryce and Midge Clack

February 7, 2015

Dear Tilden family,

We are saddened by Johns passing yet rejoice in the glory and company in which he now finds himself. He was very humble and encouraging. Many times, he would advise us concerning our children or discuss something new in a sermon that the Holy Spirit brought to light. Always learning, sharing and loving. We will truly miss John.

Brian Hughes

February 7, 2015

We are so sorry to hear of your loss. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Blessings,
Brian and Jeannette Hughes

Showing 1 - 17 of 17 results

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