Jeffrey Thomas Tye, the son of Jack Ellis and Donna Joanne (Forsyth) Tye, was born February 13, 1964, in Greenfield, IA. He died January 11, 2026, at his home in McCool Junction, NE, at the age of 61 years, 10 months, and 29 days.
Jeff grew up on the family farm northwest of Griswold. He attended school in Griswold and graduated with the class of 1982.
Jeff loved his family, friends, and his dog Jack. Jeff had a great sense of humor and had an ornery side!
Jeff had a variety of jobs, most of them as a cook. He walked beans for neighbors as a child then at 16 he started working at Kmart in Atlantic. After graduation, he worked at the beef plant in Oakland, then at a truck stop north of Atlantic. In 1985, he moved to York, NE and worked at Chances R Restaurant before going to work at Kerry’s restaurant in McCool Junction, NE. He retired in December 2025.
Jeff is preceded in death by his father Jack Tye; his sister in infancy Karen Tye; his paternal grandparents Vernon and Myrtle Tye; and his paternal grandparents Ernest and Cleta Forsyth.
He is survived by his children: Andrew Tye and wife Amber Anne of Corning, IA, Joshua Tye of Omaha, NE, Amber Marie Tye of New York, and Mitchell Tye of York, NE; granddaughters: Allison, Abigail, Arizona, and Sophia; grandsons: Austin and Bennett; mother Donna Tye of Griswold; sister Jacqueline Jones and husband Dennis of Greenfield, IA; nephew Richard Jones; niece Ashley Masmar and husband Andy; and good friends Kirkland Doht and family. He is also survived by his aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Griswold Central Church of Christ. Interment will be in the Whipple Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2026, from 3-5 PM, at the Griswold Central Church of Christ. Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family.
