By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – News of the unexpected death of prominent Niles businessman Taylor "Tim" Tyler has shocked and saddened the Michiana community.
Tyler died on Tuesday, apparently following complications after a fall at his home a few weeks before. According to friends, family members had expected him to be released from a hospital at the end of the week.
Tyler died at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph.
In addition to being a tireless volunteer and benefactor for a myriad of community groups and causes, Tyler was a successful businessman, founding Tyler Automotive in Niles, among many other business ventures.
"Niles has lost one of its true civic leaders with the death of Tim Tyler. He set an example for all of us to follow with his continual giving back to our community in so many ways," said Ted Halbritter of Niles. "I had the opportunity to serve on several boards with Tim. He was always there and always ready to contribute both in ideas and dedication.
"One of the many shared experiences we had was serving the Niles Community Schools as school board members. The example Tim set in that arena has been followed by many of his family. That Tyler oversight has provided quality education for not just our community but all who have gone on to other ventures," he added.
Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Ron Sather said discussion at the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club on Monday was about Tyler's recovery from his serious fall, which resulted in him breaking his wrist and having five pins inserted, as well as possible head trauma. Tyler had begun rehab, Sather said, and was doing well.
"The family has given so much to the community through the hospital, United Way and the YMCA," Sather said.
Tyler was also a past president of the Chamber and the Niles School Board.
"It's a sad day for Niles. It is a tremendous loss to the Y and the entire community. He and his family have done so much for Niles. He was a doer," said Bret Hendrie, Niles-Buchanan YMCA executive director.
"I can't imagine not having Tim by our side," he added.
The two became friends during the five years they worked together on the new YMCA building project. Tyler was the capital campaign chair.
Though he knew Tyler had some serious injuries, Hendrie had thought Tyler had been making progress. He was unsure how to describe how much his death shocked him.
Hendrie did, though, relate how much the Tyler family has done for the YMCA.
"The entire family has dedicated parts of their lives to the YMCA, going all the way back to his grandfather. Tim's family helped establish the original Y back in 1944. It is a long tradition with the Tyler family."
Tyler's daughter Jane was the first female board president, he added.
Hendrie credits Tyler with saving the Y building project.
"At one point in this process, I thought we had hit a brick wall – with hits to the campaign, money not coming in, $2.2 million over budget when the bids came back," Hendrie said.
"It would have been easy to give up. He pounded on the table and said we will not fail. We will make changes. It might have gone a different way if he had not been at that meeting," Hendrie said.
He also remembered that though Tyler's entire family "at one time or other served on the board of directors, he slipped through the cracks," adding, "we nabbed him" for the campaign.
"We could count on him in many ways. My leadership blossomed under his leadership. I'm devastated," Hendrie said.
The YMCA partnered with Lakeland Regional Health System, which was another place in the community were the Tyler name is well known.
Tyler was very active with Lakeland and, in 2003, was welcomed to its Board of Directors. He served on the Lakeland Health Foundation, Niles Board of Directors for two years before that.
A wing in Lakeland Hospital in Niles was dedicated to the Tyler family, following the death of his first wife, Marjorie "Midge" Tyler, who died at age 62, on Oct. 11, 2002.
Each year, the Lakeland Hospital Pawating Auxiliary light the "Midge Tyler Tree of Love." Sponsors make donations toward the project she started in 1994, which was named in her honor after her death.
Tim Tyler was a business owner in south Berrien County for 38 years, president of Tim Tyler Motors and Tylers' Automotive in Niles, as well as an owner of Kruger Plastic Products in Bridgman, Precision Plastics in Galien and Vickers Engineering in Three Oaks.
Tyler was a board member of Littleford Day Inc. of Florence, Ky.
Tyler was also involved with Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance from its beginning in 1981 as the Greater Niles Economic Development Foundation. His leadership with that group led to the development of the property in Bertrand Township near the Indiana state line and the U.S. 31 bypass into what is today the Bertrand Crossing industrial park.
Tyler was always optimistic about the potential of the Niles area.
"We have excellent growth potential here. We're well situated between Chicago and Detroit with easy access to excellent highways," Tyler told the Niles Daily Star in an article in 2002 on the area's economy.
Tyler's wife, Sharon (Witt) Tyler, who survives, has led economic development efforts in Berrien County and the greater Niles area for more than 26 years. She is seeking the Republican nomination for the 78th district's state representative.
Among his many distinctions, Tyler was Man of the Year in 2004 by the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, which he received in 2005.
Tyler was born in Glen Ellyn, Ill., and lived there until coming to Niles at the age of 8. He was a Niles High School graduate before attending Dartmouth College, where he earned a bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration.
He served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1962.
Tyler joined members of his family at Tyler Refrigeration, where he began his career as regional sales manager. Later, he teamed up with Terry Linville and went into the automobile dealership business.
"I've known Tim Tyler since moving to Niles in 1983 to work at Leader Publications. I met Tim when working with him on his advertising campaigns at Tyler Linville Chevrolet Oldsmobile dealership in Niles," recalled Hal Shue, classified and inside sales director at Leader.
"In the years since then, Tim has remained a business associate and friend. I always enjoyed talking with Tim and exchanging ideas. What a great guy. Tim was a person that made things happen. He always had a smile on his face and always a kind word for everyone. Niles has lost a great man who has done so much for our community. I mourn his passing and extend my condolences to his family and many friends," Shue said.
Halbritter Funeral Home is making arrangements for the Tyler family.