W. J. 'Tip' Tyler

Madison -W. J. "Tip" Tyler passed away peacefully on Monday, August 8, 2011, at his home. Tip was born February 23, 1919, in Pataskala, Ohio. He was a farm boy during a time when draft horses were used to plow the fields of their dairy farm. Young ten-year-old Tip won the award for Grand Champion Calf at the 1929 Ohio State Junior Fair with his cow named Dot. He continued to win many trophies in the years to come. Tip's love of cows led to a career in Dairy Science. After his undergrad at Ohio State University, Tip moved to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a Masters and Doctorate in Dairy Science Genetics. Tip fell in love with Madison and a cute little blonde, Lois Colton, from Sheboygan. They married in 1945, and moved to West Virginia where Tip taught at the University of West Virginia, Morgantown. After six years they moved with their three children back to Madison for good and three more children were born. Tip, a Dairy Geneticist, spent his career teaching dairy cattle reproduction and doing research at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Agriculture Department. His students remember his quick humor and entertaining exam questions. Each summer Tip and his family spent time at Pilgrim Family Camp in Green Lake and later Moon Beach Family Camp in St. Germain, creating a lifetime of memories for his children, grandchildren and all who knew him. Tip enjoyed LaFollette High School Basketball, UW Football and Basketball, Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corp, and the Brewers and Packers. After retirement Tip played soccer and basketball with former colleagues well into his 70's. In his later years Tip was seen daily working in his yard, making apple cider with a wooden press and walking down Monona Drive to join his cronies for coffee. Tip belonged to Plymouth UCC Church, the East Madison Kiwanis and volunteered with various Ayrshire organizations and the World Dairy Expo. The family thanks all the kind, generous people from Hospice who worked with him, in particular his nurse Kristin, who was always there for him. Tip is preceded in death by his wife, Lois Tyler; his parents, Edward and Bertha Tyler; and his sister, Florence Powell. He is survived by his children, Patty (Jack) Green of Green Valley, Ariz., David (Karen) Tyler and Nancy Tyler of Dallas, Texas, Connie (Kevin) Meyers of Marshfield, Ed (Angie) Tyler of Madison, and Lu (John) Marx of Tucson, Ariz.; and grandchildren, Andy, Kristi, Kevin, Maggie, Tyler, Brett and Steven. Tip's kind, generous spirit will be missed by all. A private gathering will be held for the family. Memorial gifts may be made to HospiceCare, Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. Memorial gifts may be made to HospiceCare, Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. A private gathering will be held for the family.