Jack Tianen, 85, passed away in his sleep on the morning of Oct. 23, 2008, in Sedro-Woolley. Jack was born in Detroit on March 12, 1923, the son of John Tianen, (of Pihtipda, Finland) and Selina Friskey (of Calumet, Mich.) Jack graduated from Detroit Central High School in June 1941. Jack served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force and was a highly decorated World War II hero with a Bronze Arrowhead with one Silver Service Star and two Bronze Service stars for his participation in the Normandy Campaign and the European African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations (Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Sicily and Tunisia) and a Belgian Fourragere medal. Jack retired from active duty service Jan. 1, 1968, at the rank of tech sergeant. Jack completed his Associate’s Degree in 1951 with the University of Maryland by taking correspondence courses. In 1953, Jack married Hilda (Susie) Barth in Wiesbaden, Germany. Jack and Susie had three sons (Peter, Mick and John). The Tianens moved to Holly, Mich., in 1968, which remained their home until 1984. Jack worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier in Flint, Mich., until he retired from Civil Service in 1983. From 1984 to 1993, Jack and Susie managed the Crossroads Motel in Oak Harbor. In 1993, Jack and Susie finally retired and moved to Sedro-Woolley. Susie passed away on Nov. 23, 1999, in Mount Vernon at the age of 74.

Jack is survived by three sons, Peter Tianen of Oak Harbor, Mike and his wife Susan Tianen of Santa Clarita, Calif., and John Tianen of Sedro-Woolley; two grandchildren, Danika Joy Hertz and her husband Devin of Santa Clarita and Kenneth Scott Tianen and his wife Heather of Bakersfield, Calif.; six great-grandchildren, Morgan, Makenna, Myca, and Mesa Hertz, and Sarra and Ethan Tianen; and his brother Carl Tianen and his wife, Doris, of Bad Axe, Mich.

Memorial services were held Oct. 28 at the Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Walt Rice of Bethlehem Lutheran Church officiating. The interment of Jack and Susie will be Nov. 14 at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Mich., with military honors.

Please share your memories and sign the online guestbook at www.lemleychapel.com.