Richard F. "Dick" Tyson

Tyson, Richard F. "Dick" Age 83, died peacefully on Saturday March 24, 2007. Richard was preceded in death by his wife Norma K. (Hierl), son Paul Richard, brothers John J. III (Marianne), Thomas J. (Sally), and his sister Ruthmary (Mike) McCormick. He is survived by his children: Daniel, Joseph, Mark, Teresa (Timothy) Philipp, Mary Pat (Greg) Vanderlaan, Kate (Bill) Weir, Anne (Jaime) Pera, Jane (Greg) Menting, Martha, Matthew, Caroline, Susan (Thomas) Coady; his grand children: Erin, Matthew and Kevin Tyson, Sarah, Christopher (Charity), Andrew, Robert, Emily (Jan) Lie, Stephen, Patrick and Daniel Tyson, Elizabeth Philipp, Luke Vanderlaan, Colleen, John, Nicholas, Mary Elizabeth, Thomas, Brian and Daniel Weir, Daniel and Lauren Pera, Patrick and Joseph Menting, Madison and Emma Coady and great-grandchild Jasmine Tyson. He is also survived by his cousins and by his many beloved nieces and nephews who loved him as a second father and as a friend. Dick attended St. Sebastian's grade school (1937), Marquette University High School (1941), Marquette University (1943) and graduated with high honors from Marquette University Law School (1949). He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa fraternity at Marquette University. His high school classmates often reminded him of his gift to them, a day off from school, when he won the statewide Latin contest his senior year. During WWII he served with the 9th Army Air Force, 387th Bomb Squadron, flying 46 missions in the European Theater and later enjoyed a lifetime fellowship with his fellow Air Corps veterans as a member of the B-26 Marauder Men. After his military service and law school he started his career in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin at the Hierl Insurance Agency and then as a journalist and college professor on the East Coast. He returned to Milwaukee and served as counsel to the Milwaukee Board of Realtors and then practiced with the firm of Camp, Pfannerstill, Camp and Tyson. Later he served as corporate counsel for several of the underwriters in the title insurance industry, retiring from Minnesota Title Insurance Company to his home in Baileys Harbor, WI in 1994. He was a member and chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association and active in many bar association, civic and real estate activities over his career. He loved the law and was respected by his legal peers as an expert in his chosen specialty of real estate law. He gave countless pro bono service to the poor and clients who had no other voice, including those of the unborn through his work with the Wisconsin Right to Life. Dick was among the founding members of Opus Dei in the United States, living the fullness of his faith through dedication to his work, family and friends. His clear Irish tenor voice and his love of song were shared with friends and family at every available opportunity. He had a great sense of humor and quick wit and a passion for his life and life's work that he spent always as a man of justice and faith. He was a member of the Milwaukee Council on Equal Opportunity, member and president of Citizens for Educational Freedom, The Holy Name Society, the St. Thomas More Society, Our Lady of the Bays Knights of Columbus, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was first and foremost a devoted husband and father and counted as his greatest success his family. He lived by the words he made his own: "The heart has an infinite capacity for love" and found great happiness surrounded by his family and especially his loving wife and best friend, Norma. Visitation at the Funeral Home on Thursday, March 29 from 4 to 8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at St. Sebastian's Parish (5400 W. Washington Blvd.) at 12 Noon. Interment Services on Saturday, 11:45, please meet at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church (8013 Hwy. 57, Bailey's Harbor). Interment at St. Mary's Cemetery, Bailey's Harbor. Memorials to Marquette University Law School, St. Sebastian's Catholic School or Layton Cultural Center appreciated. Sympathy Expressions www.beckerritter.com BECKER RITTER Michael Feerick Associate 14075 W. North Ave. (262)782-5330