Airman
United States Air Force
Michael Richard Tyrrel, son of Jack and Wanda Mae Ensminger Tyrrel, was born on 30 March 1954 in Burlington, Iowa.
Michael graduated from Burlington High School in 1973. A very warm and affectionate person, Michael loved hunting and fishing.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force and left for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for basic training. His first assignment took him to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. While home on leave, Michael was the victim of what authorities believed was a shooting accident. On 29 May 1976, Michael and two of his friends were on the Sullivan Slough road at the Iowa Southern Utilities drive three miles south of Burlington, target shooting when Michael was shot in the chest at close range. He was driven to Burlington Medical Center where he died.
Michael was survived by his parents; a sister, Jackie living in Nevada, Iowa; a brother, Steven of Burlington; grandparents, Mrs. Ethel Tyrrel of Burlington, and Iliff Ensminger of Bloomfield; aunts, uncles, 27 first cousins, and his dog, Misty.
Airman Michael Richard Tyrrel, United States Air Force, was buried in Burlington’s Memorial Park Cemetery.
Source of information:
1. The Burlington Hawk-Eye, 30 May 1976, page 1.
2. The Burlington Hawk-Eye, 1 June 1976, page 10.
3. Des Moines County Iowa Veterans Buried with Markers, compiled by the Des Moines County Genealogical Society, 1984.
4. Photo and information provided by Jackie Onnen. Jackie is Michael's sister.
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