Robert Burnard Tiedman

Robert Burnard Tiedman, 91, of Vermilion, passed away peacefully Sunday, October 4, 2026, at University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center.

He was born May 20, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, was raised in Strongsville, and had been a Vermilion resident for the past 59 years.

Robert was a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he was a submariner on the USS Harder. Following his military service, he worked for the New York City Port Authority. After moving to Vermilion, he worked as an electrician for Ford Motor Company in Sandusky for 27 years, retiring in 1994.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Lorain, the Experimental Aircraft Association in Huron, and the U.S. Submarine Veterans Club.

Robert enjoyed flying and was a lifelong tinkerer who loved staying busy in his garage, rebuilding electronics, and working on just about anything that needed fixing. He was a true handyman who could always find a solution. Perhaps his most memorable attribute was his incredibly positive outlook on life. Whenever someone asked how he was doing, his answer was always, “Wonderful.” He approached life with a true can-do attitude and often said, “There are no problems, only challenges.”

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Charlotte (nee Spisak) Tiedman; daughters, Faith (Tom) Bodde of Vermilion, Corinne Tiedman of Columbia, MO, and Theresa (John) Kavanagh of Owls Head, ME; grandchildren, Dr. Emerson R. Bodde of Kunshan, Jiangsu, China, and Archer Cavanaugh of Columbia, MO; brother, David Tiedman; and sister, Irene Findlay.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Tiedman; mother, Leona (nee Burnard) Tiedman; mother who raised him, Caroline Tiedman; brothers, Edward and Raymond Tiedman; and sister, Caroline Whitecar.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. at Riddle Funeral Home, 5345 South Street, Vermilion, Ohio. Interment will follow at Birmingham Cemetery in Wakeman, where military honors will be presented.

Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.