Galen Walter Tietz, age 66, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, January 7, following a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Rd, Decorah, IA 52101, with Rev Peter Kowitz presiding. Burial will take place at a later date in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 East Water Street, Decorah, Iowa. There will be no visitation before the service on Tuesday. Please come in and be seated.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may go to the family.

Galen was born on June 10, 1959, in Decorah, Iowa, to Lavonne and Leonard Tietz. He grew up on a farm in rural Winneshiek County and graduated from Decorah High School in 1978 before attending Northeast Iowa Community College. A true farm boy at heart, Galen was active in both 4-H and FFA throughout his youth. He and his brother were known to rush through their chores so they could dig up worms and go fishing with their dad. That early love of fishing grew into more than 50 annual Canadian fishing trips, all to Lumberjack Lodge. As a young man, Galen could often be found working on race cars with friends, a hobby that reflected his mechanical skills and love of problem-solving. Those talents stayed with him throughout his life. Galen married Melanie Burreson on February 29, 1992, in Mesa, Arizona. Together they raised two children, Jordan and Daiton. Because he did not have cousins of his own, Galen especially enjoyed gatherings with Melanie’s cousins and extended family. In 1990, he began taking over the day-to-day operations of the family farm, where he continued to evolve the operation and embrace new technologies. According to his daughter, Galen could fix anything. An excellent welder, he was always willing to lend a hand and help others with their projects. 

Galen enjoyed having coffee in his shop alongside neighbors and friends, sharing conversation and laughter. He also loved traveling annually to Arizona and occasionally to Hawaii during the winter months, where he spent his days lounging by the pool and drinking margaritas. The rest of the year, he looked forward to gathering with good friends at backyard get-togethers, grilling, and smoking various meats. Above all, his two young grandsons were the lights of his life. He delighted in spending time playing alongside them, watching tractors, and going on gator rides around the farm. He was excited to meet his first granddaughter this spring. 

Galen is survived by his wife, Melanie; his mother, Lavonne; his son, Jordan (Shannon) Tietz and their son Mason; his daughter, Daiton (Mitchell) Donkers and their son Milo. He is also survived by his brother, Randy (Joyce) Tietz; nephews Fr. Kyle Tietz and Alex (Sydney) Tietz and their children; and sister-in-law Melody (Mike) McIrvin. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Tietz; his daughter, Danica; his mother-in-law, Marge Fossey; and his fathers-in-law, John Burreson, Gary Larson, and Allen Fossey.