Anthony Edward (Tony) Tieso, a resident of Merced, passed away October 29 in a Merced hospital. He was 85. Tony was born September 29, 1928, in Los Banos, CA, to Salvatore (Sam) and Theresa LaSalvia Tieso. Tony was a veteran of the US Army and served in Korea from 1950-52. He was a self-employed soft drink distributor and the owner of Tieso Distributing and Los Banos Soda Works. He was a member of the local VFW, St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish in Merced, and the Golden Age Club in Los Banos.
Tony was an avid supporter of the MHS Marching 100 and a one-time president of the Merced Lions Club. Tony loved to travel and was an avid fan of the San Francisco 49ers and Giants, but more than anything else, he loved his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Verna Arlene George Tieso, daughter Susan Ann Tieso, and sister Janet Tieso Gill; and is survived by two daughters, Carol Lynne Tieso of Williamsburg, VA and Jill Elise DeWeese of Yorba Linda, CA; son-in-law, Paul DeWeese; grandchildren, Ryan Anthony and Alison Nicole DeWeese; sister, Lorraine Chuning of Los Banos; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A vigil service with rosary on Tuesday, November 5 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the Whitehurst Funeral Chapel~ Los Banos. A celebration of his life is planned for Wednesday, November 6 at 11:00 a.m. at the Whitehurst Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends and family donate to Hinds Hospice of Merced: Hinds Hospice 410 W Main Street Suite A, Merced, CA 95340 (http://www.hindshospice.org/donate.html).