Obituary of Nye Frederic Wiley Jr

Wiley, Nye Jr. 

Nye, 67, passed away unexpectedly of pneumonia complications on December 13, 2019.  He will be deeply missed by his wife Jan (Hughes), his namesake son Nye III, (now Rev. Joseph Wiley), his stepsons Ryan (partner Wendy) and Jeremy (wife Katie).  Granddaughters Clara and Harper will miss their “Nye Guy” and his jokes.   He is survived by his one and only “favorite brother”, Terry and his wife, Darlene. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Carol Zoebisch Douglass(Marys Sister)

He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary and his sisters, Regan and Sheila. His father, Nye Frederic Wiley Sr. and his mother, Allene Spangenberg Wiley have passed away.  

Nye grew up in Minneapolis. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1970.  After high school,  he honorably served in the National Guard.

He met his wife Mary Zoebisch when he ran over her on a ski slope.  Romance blossomed and they were married November 24, 1973.  Nye III, was born April 4, 1978.  After 39 years of marriage, he lost his dear Mary to lung cancer in October,2012.  His younger sister, Sheila had died for cancer just 2 months earlier and Nye was being treated for his own cancer as well.   He bravely forged on and his cancer went into remission. 

In 2014, Nye met Jan, who had also been widowed in 2012 after 37 years of marriage.   This common ground seeded their friendship. Their friendship deepened into love and they were married September 16,2017. They sold their respective homes at opposite ends of the city and “met in the middle.”  They moved to Uptown and Nye enjoyed biking or walking around Lake of the Isle almost every day. 

Nye worked for Xerox as a color specialist for 35 years.  He enjoyed his professional career, but when asked his favorite job, he’d say “Retirement.”   

Jan and Nye packed in a lot of travel in their short 5 years together; Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, England, Ireland, Caribbean, Turkey and Greece. Their mutual favorite however, was Italy.   And, cruising was definitely their preferred mode of travel.  In 2018, they shared a profound experience through Global Volunteers.  They served in a small, poverty ridden town in Tanzania.   After the volunteer work, they went on Safari.  When they say “A trip of a lifetime,” that was theirs.  

Special thanks to the Methodist Hospital ER/ICU staff for their valiant efforts and compassionate care. The medical and nursing teams helped making the “unbearable” bearable. 

The Memorial Service for Nye will be held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4537 3RD Ave. S on Thursday, January 2; Visitation at 10AM. Mass at 11AM. Lunch to follow. 

“Death and love are the two wings that bear the good man to Heaven.” "Michelangelo"