Michael D. Tiernan

At the time of his passing on February 5, 2021, Michael Tiernan, 81, lived alone in a quiet, unassuming house at the end of a quiet, unassuming street. His house was instantly recognizable for many years by its yellow school bus mailbox, a token from his time spent driving a bus for Fulton county after retiring from AT&T. He enjoyed the occasional visitor, but was mostly fond of spending time with his wife Barbara. The house abutted an old cow pasture that reminded him of his childhood on a small farm outside of Winterset, Iowa, though the area around him had changed considerably from when he first moved there some thirty years prior.

You would never know on meeting him how many adventures a seemingly quiet, unassuming life can contain, but hints of other stories were apparent in the pictures on the walls of his home and in his collection of curios that lined the shelves in several rooms. The numerous RAGBRAI posters told of how he had bicycled across the state of Iowa every year for more than two decades. Old New Yorker covers were a keepsake of time he spent living in Hoboken. If asked, he could tell you of the time he met the pope and two, or was it three, presidents and may even have been able to dig up a Christmas card signed by one of them. An ever updated collection of books were a testament to an active imagination that never tired of exploring.

Michael remained, to the end, an Iowa farm boy, waking before the break of dawn every day, avidly following the local news and the weather, but not much interested in the changing fads around him or overly involved in the world past the end of his driveway. He tended his tomatoes, kept the grass short, and enjoyed playing Solitaire. Although not one for fussiness or any kind of show, he had a big laugh and a bigger heart, and gave more than he asked in return from the world, especially to his parents, John and Margaret Tiernan; his siblings, Don, Helen, Greg, Joe, and Tim; his adopted family, Whitney, Dane, Chelsea, Taylor, and Aaron; and to his five grandchildren and the many children that came in and out of his life over the years of driving a school bus. He will always be remembered and forever be missed.

Michael didn't care much for flowers, unless they were growing in the ground, but he was fond of the elementary school kids on his bus. Driving those kids gave him purpose and was often the brightest spot of his day. In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s honor may be made to any charity whose focus is young people (i.e. St. Jude, Feed the Children, Make a Wish Foundation).

As for funeral arrangements, Michael wanted to be buried in the family plot in Winterset, Iowa. Due to COVID guidelines, the burial is expected to take place sometime this summer, so all family members and friends can attend safely.