Martha Jean Tyacke

Martha Jean Tyacke February 22, 1939 - September 25, 2026

“God Is My Strength”. “You control the doorway - good attitude, live in peace,and Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Anger.”

Martha Jean Koski was born on February 22, 1939, during a snowstorm in Duluth, Minnesota. Her parents, Dagmar and Oscar Koski already had a 4 year old son and 3 more were to follow after Martha. Martha loved to tell the story of when she was 4 yreas old, she walked to Bridgeman’s Ice Cream shop with her doll buggy to get a strawberry ice cream cone. When she arrived by herself with no parents in tow, the counter clerk asked if she had a nickel - when she said no the clerk asked her where she lived and walked her home. Mom remembers thinking, “this is what my dad always did - walk to the shop and order my strawberry ice cream cone. Martha’s mother was shocked and told her she’d be tethered to the clothesline when she played in the yard. Mom pleaded to be untied and her 8 year older brother, Morty looked her straight in the eye and said if you promise to Never Leave Again, he’d untie her - she promised and kept her word. This story showed mom’s SISU from an early age. The Finnish word SISU means tenacity of purpose, grit, determination, and resilience!

Mom graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1957 with honors and went on to get her RN degree by attending the University of Minnesota Duluth and St Luke’s School of Nursing. She graduated in 1960. Mom worked as a Postpartum Nurse as well as a NICU Nurse. Mom worked in Duluth, Mn, Montgomery, Al., Wichita Falls, Tx., and Aurora, Co.

Martha married Douglas Tyacke on September 8, 1962, in Duluth, Minnesota. They have 4 children, Scott, wife La Sheen and son Skyler in Duluth, Minnesota. Jean, husband Corby and 3 children David, Joseph and Mirabel in Denver, Colorado. Timothy, wife Margaret and son Eion (Eion’s mom, Kristen) in Littleton and Japan. Robert, wife, Erin and son Grayson (Grayson’s mom Amanda) in Aurora.

Martha is preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Dagmar Koski along with her 3 brothers Morty, Raymond and Henry. Martha is survived by her sister Joshephine, husband Clifford and their children Mary and Clifford Jr. in Alaska.

Mom brightened many lives with her love of cooking, needlepoint works of art, quilting, and gardening. She had many Super Powers such as loving others as Christ loved her. She was generous and inclusive - calm and a solid rock in the midst of changes. Mom Loved her children, grandchildren and all extended family. Mom and Dad moved every 4 years due to Dad’s military career and always created a nurturing and beautiful new home for us kids. Eldest son, Scott: “she was an all around great mother! I remember dad didn’t like garlic in anything - mom would rub the salad bowl with garlic then drop in the clove at the bottom of the bowl - dad always got the clove in his salad somehow! Mom used to make “Surprise Bags” for our long road trips and fill them with treasures according to each of our likes. School shopping every Autumn - mom took us individually to buy clothes, supplies and dine at our favorite restaurant for lunch.” Jean: “going on an early evening drive along Lake Superior in the winter when I was a junior in high school. We got stuck in the snow and 2 men had to push us back onto the road. Mom buying a beautiful seashell carved Mermaid pendant that I had admired with her. I found out later she had worked many overtime hours in her job as a nurse to buy this piece. Sewing special quilts, birch trees, blue jays and laughing at dad’s jokes and being his biggest fan.” Tim: “though she worked hard with 12 hours shifts at the hospital, she always had dinner in the crock pot for everyone.” Robert: “mom would wake me up for school by knocking on my door and asking in the most sweetest, softest and loving voice “is there a blue eyed boy

in here?” She’d tell me about Meadow Larks singing in the morning on the fence posts. Being a nurse, she’d always answer any questions about our health and bodies. She was so very loving.” Dad: “I’m glad we were married 64 years and I spent most of my life with her except when the Air Force sent me to Viet Nam for 12 months. She stayed in Duluth with our 2 children and enjoyed the snow. Martha loved fish and when we ate fish together, I always got the fish bones and she’d say it was because I was an only child.” In her last 2 months of life being sick and bedridden, she made new friends: Martin (loving care and chicken stories/videos and deep conversations), Adam (adventurous tales, wisdom, art and loving care) and many others. Mom and Dad’s neighbors and close friends, Rick and Diane nextdoor and Traci across the street have been an important part of their lives for over 23 years and they’ve shown abundant love towards them.

Mom stayed for many milestones during her sickness and celebrated 64 years of marriage with dad. Mom’s Memorial Service will be at her son and daughter in law’s church, Peace Mennonite Church in Aurora, Colorado, where we will come together to Thank God for this gift of Martha: Daughter, Wife, Mother, Friend, and Lover of life.