Clara M. Tyler
MIDDLETON–Beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and godmother for many, Clara Tyler passed away on Nov. 5, 2022, at age 97. Born to Julia and Joseph Sweeney, she was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers, Joseph, Quentin, Vincent and Jerome.
Clare is survived by her children, Christine, Stephen (Juanita), Mark (Karen), Maureen (Nataraj Hauser) and Marilyn (Joseph Lustek); grandchildren, Lauren and Tyler Lustek; sister, Terri Corbett; and many nieces and nephews.
Clare was a graduate of Aquinas High School and St. Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse, Wis. She was married to William Tyler, a science teacher at Middleton High School, until his death at age 45.
She loved being a nurse and was patient and generous with her expertise when called upon by neighbors for advice. She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, and as a nurse clinician for the UW Student Health Center, where she made many friends and retired from at age 67.
In retirement, Clare enjoyed volunteering for the Middleton Senior Center, receiving a volunteer of the year award, and for the St. Bernard Catholic Church funeral cooking staff in Middleton. She was an avid bridge player and belonged to two local groups as well as a bible study group. She loved joining friends at Scott’s Bakery, gardening and camping with family. We kids remember many happy times camping in Wisconsin parks in an old school bus she and dad renovated into a big blue RV. Clare enjoyed her neighbors and their kids and dogs, walking in nature and sitting on her deck, and she loved to visit and cook, a good party and funny jokes. Most of all she loved her kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and the neighborhood youngsters, enjoying their achievements. She worked long and hard for college education for her kids. Her love and caring cannot be replaced, and she will be dearly missed. As Clare enriched lives here on earth, heaven shines brighter on her arrival.
The family extends our gratitude to the staff at Capitol Lakes Health Center and Agrace HospiceCare for their compassion in care for Clare, and the support of St. Bernard Parish in Middleton and their Prayer Shawl Ministry.
Contributions in Clara’s name may be made to the Middleton Senior Center and the Specialty Care Free Clinic of Madison (bspfreeclinic.org), which provides specialty health care to uninsured and low income patients.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 7450 University Ave., Middleton, at 11 a.m. on Dec. 2, 2022, with Father Brian Wilk presiding. Family and friends who wish to view the Mass via live stream may visit Clare’s obituary page at gundersonfh.com and click on the Live Webcast Link at 11 a.m. on Friday. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Friday. A reception will follow at Gunderson West Funeral and Cremation Care, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, beginning at 12 noon.
Online condolences may be made at gundersonfh.com.
