John Mark Tyler

John Mark Tyler Jr., age 79, passed away peacefully at home in Arcadia on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, surrounded by wife, Kathy, and children. Born July 5, 1932, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, John grew up in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas, and graduated from East High School in Wichita, Kansas in 1950. As a teenager, he was a cadet in the junior Civil Air Patrol which fueled his life-long interest in flying and in amateur radio. In 1955, John graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, and soon moved to California to pursue a career in aerospace engineering. He also spent several years working in education, including teaching math at Clifton Junior HS in Monrovia, before starting a successful home repair business, named Big John's Handyman Service. He thrived on the triumphs and challenges of running Big John's for 30 years, finally retiring in 2003. Throughout these years, John was very active in the Arcadia community, especially the Rotary Club, where he served as president. John and his wife, Kathy, were very active in the Arcadia Chapter of the American Red Cross, where John served a term as Chairman of the Board of Directors, donating his time and support to disaster readiness programs in his community. He also served a term as chair of the Arcadia Historical Society. Married for 32 years, John and Kathy, enjoyed traveling throughout the world, visiting nearly one hundred countries. John also enjoyed spending time with his family and visiting with his many friends. He will be remembered for his pleasant personality as a husband, father, friend and neighbor, and especially for sharing a smile, a handshake and a joke with everyone he met. John is survived by wife Kathy Brandes, and their six children and spouses: Heidi Mottl (Tom),Julie Mercik (Mike), Deborah Brandes, Terri Donnelly, Diane Brandes (Michael), and Bryan Brandes (Jackie), along with twelve grandchildren, Christopher, Catharine, Tucker, Trevor, Bridget, Natalie, Lindsey, Lauren, Alexander, Harrison, Erin, and Alyson, and one great grandbaby, Vesper, who John enjoyed meeting last month! John also leaves behind a brother, Robert “Stan” Tyler, and nephew, Truman. A Celebration of John’s life will be held on April 7, at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Arcadia, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Arcadia Rotary would be appreciated.