Obituary
Robert "Bob" Tietjen, 76, of Des Moines, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at his home. A Catholic mass of burial will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Des Moines. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. A luncheon will his committal service at the fellowship hall of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Bob was born on January 5, 1947, to Richard and Pearl (Fisk) Tietjen in Dubuque, Iowa. He was raised in Dubuque where he attended Washington Jr. High School and graduated with the class of 1964. Bob then began working in the grocery store business. He married the love of his life Michelle Freese on May 27, 1972, in Dubuque. The couple relocated to Des Moines in 1977. Bob took on the role of Operations Manager for Specialty Food and remained with them until his retirement in 2002. After his retirement, Bob drove a Des Moines City bus for 10 years part-time and enjoyed the company.
He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughter's, and Taking Off Pounds Sensibly or TOPS. Bob loved to spend time with his family, working all his jobs, taking care of his yard, cooking, cleaning, classic cars, and donating either his time or financially to many local organizations. He was a humble but very generous and kind man that will be missed by many.
Those left to cherish his loving memory are his children Christopher (Chrystal Fletcher) Tietjen, Kevin Tietjen, and Beth (Pete Chambers) Tietjen; grandchildren Mason Tietjen, Patience Chambers, and Abbigail Tietjen; great-grandchild Silas Gardner; in-laws Bob and Vickie Freese; brothers-in-law Leon and George Freese; sisters-in-law Jean Freese and Carol Tietjen; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter Jennifer, siblings Dick Tietjen, Barbara Alexander, and Patricia Grossaint.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Boys Town of Omaha or St. Jude's Medical Center in Bob's memory.
Celebrate Life Iowa has been entrusted with the care of Bob and his family.
Bob was born on January 5, 1947, to Richard and Pearl (Fisk) Tietjen in Dubuque, Iowa. He was raised in Dubuque where he attended Washington Jr. High School and graduated with the class of 1964. Bob then began working in the grocery store business. He married the love of his life Michelle Freese on May 27, 1972, in Dubuque. The couple relocated to Des Moines in 1977. Bob took on the role of Operations Manager for Specialty Food and remained with them until his retirement in 2002. After his retirement, Bob drove a Des Moines City bus for 10 years part-time and enjoyed the company.
He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughter's, and Taking Off Pounds Sensibly or TOPS. Bob loved to spend time with his family, working all his jobs, taking care of his yard, cooking, cleaning, classic cars, and donating either his time or financially to many local organizations. He was a humble but very generous and kind man that will be missed by many.
Those left to cherish his loving memory are his children Christopher (Chrystal Fletcher) Tietjen, Kevin Tietjen, and Beth (Pete Chambers) Tietjen; grandchildren Mason Tietjen, Patience Chambers, and Abbigail Tietjen; great-grandchild Silas Gardner; in-laws Bob and Vickie Freese; brothers-in-law Leon and George Freese; sisters-in-law Jean Freese and Carol Tietjen; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter Jennifer, siblings Dick Tietjen, Barbara Alexander, and Patricia Grossaint.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Boys Town of Omaha or St. Jude's Medical Center in Bob's memory.
Celebrate Life Iowa has been entrusted with the care of Bob and his family.
