Byron K. "Blondie" Tye, 82, of Griswold, IA, died Thursday morning, April 15, 2010, at the Griswold Care Center in Griswold.

Byron Keith Tye was born at Griswold, IA on March 9, 1927, the son of Maynard LeRoy and Greta Cecilia (Smith) Tye. He graduated from Griswold High School in 1945 and married the love of his life Lovella Willms on August 22, 1947 at the Lutheran Parsonage in Griswold and to this union two children were born, Keith and Kathy. He was a farmer, liked to plant the seed, watch it grow and then get the combine out and harvest the crop.

He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, had served as president of the congregation and had served on the church board several terms. He was a 4-H leader in Wright Township for 12 years, had served on the East Pottawattamie county ASC board and the Pottawattamie County 4-H board.

Byron's enjoyments were many. They included his family to whom he was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. His main hobby was tractors, both the big ones and the toy ones. He went on several tractor drives in the area. He and Lovella enjoyed camping, wintering in Texas, and enjoyed traveling, including an Alaskan cruise and a trip to Hawaii.

Byron was preceded in death by his parents Maynard and Greta, his parents-in-law Herman and Lydia Willms, his sisters Vera Jean Myers, Lorraine Porter and Donna Dunn and his brother LeRoy "Red" Tye.

Surviving Bryon's passing are his wife of 62 years, Lovella of Griswold, his son Keith Tye and wife Peggy of Red Oak, IA, his daughter Kathryn Jensen and husband Mark of Shelby, IA and his six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; Wendy (Craig) Adelson [Garrett Ross, Deagan Page] of Omaha, Rebecca Tye [Angel and Mari McCall] of Omaha, Ryan (Jessica) Tye [Aydan Tye] of Rochester, MN, Aaron Jensen of Maryville, MO, Cpl. Kevin Jensen of Jacksonville, NC and Brianna Jensen of Iowa City, IA. Also surviving are his sister-in-law Sandy Tye of Griswold as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 19, 2010 at 10:30 AM at Faith Lutheran Church in Griswold, Pastor Celeste Waymire officiating. Burial will be in the Whipple Cemetery. Open visitation will be at the Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold and the family will be present from 3:00 to 5:00 Sunday afternoon.