John William "Jack" Tiehen, 91, of Topeka, died Saturday, May 5, 2018.

Mr. Tiehen worked 39 years for the Santa Fe Railway in the Operating, Transportation and Information Systems Departments before retiring in 1986. He then did consulting work for the Chicago, South Shore & South Bend, and the Chicago, Missouri & Western railroads. He served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II in the Pacific.

He was born July 5, 1926, in Salem, Nebraska, to John Thomas and Myrtle Kirk Tiehen. He was graduated from Salem High School, attended Chillicothe Business College, Chillicothe, Missouri, and Santa Fe’s Institute of Business Economics at the University of Southern California. He belonged to the First United Methodist Church.

He was married to Maxine Marie Wolner on August 15, 1947, at Chillicothe, Missouri. She preceded him in death on December 4, 2008.

Survivors include a son John Edwin Tiehen of Cypress, California, John’s wife Caralyn Carter Tiehen, sons John Richard Tiehen and Daniel Lee Tiehen, in addition to numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by four sisters, Catherine Lester of Kansas City, MO, Mary Ellen Shaw of Kansas City, MO, Rosalie Relf of Falls City, NE, and Vivian Strahm of Sabetha, KS.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at the Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Private burial will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery.

A celebration of life gathering will be held following the memorial service, please contact the funeral home if you desire additional details.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Way of Greater Topeka, 1315 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS 66604.

Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is assisting the family. To leave a message for Jack's family, please click the "Share Memories" button above.