John Tyndall, 80, beloved outdoorsman, Veteran, and Law Enforcement leader passed away at his residence in Plymouth MN July 21, 2025.
Born September 22, 1944 in Nyack NY, John was the eldest son of John Sr. and Vera Tyndall. John grew up in Piermont NY, a small town that would forever hold a special place in his heart. After graduating from Tappan Zee High School in 1962, John enlisted in the United States Air Force. Serving with honor in Germany and Korea, he met and married Air Force Nurse Patricia Sweeney(deceased 1989). Upon their discharge, they began their life together in Patricia’s home state of South Dakota where they both enjoyed hunting and fishing. John married Laurie Brown in 1992, they enjoyed travel and the NY Jets. John met his soulmate and life partner Margaret “Maggie” Hawes in 2004. They spent many happy years together until her death in 2015.
In 1971, John began his extensive career in Law Enforcement when he joined the Sioux Falls Police Department as a patrol officer and served on the SWAT team until 1980. John then joined South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Drug Enforcement Unit. John was assigned undercover and complex cases that were prosecuted in State and Federal Courts. Later, John joined Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation where he worked criminal interdiction detail assigned to the MinneapolisSt. Paul Airport. His career culminated in his role as President of the National Drug Enforcement Officers Association; a position that brought him great pride and reflected a lifetime of commitment to justice and public service. John dedicated his professional life to law enforcement where he served with distinction at both State and Federal levels, he retired in 2005.
As an avid outdoorsman, John found South Dakota’s wide open spaces and rich natural beauty a perfect fit. The Midwest became his chosen home for the next half a century. Some of John’s fondest memories are the years he spent with good friends at the Marty Ranch hunting antelope and deer and helping with branding.
John’s life was marked by duty, friendship and a deep love of nature. He will be remembered for his quiet strength, his deep loyalty and sense of integrity that he brought to all he did. John’s legacy lives on in the many lives he touched and in the memories of those who knew and loved him.
John is preceded in death by his parents John Sr. and Vera Tyndall, Patricia and Maggie. He is survived by his brothers James Tyndall of South Carolina and Joseph Tyndall of New Jersey, special cousins and nieces and nephews.
His remains will be laid to rest in New York and South Dakota, two places that held a deep meaning to him. The Rockland Cemetery in NY near his childhood home, alongside Maggie, and Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis SD. Memorial service will be held Friday, October 10, 2025 at 3 pm, Black Hills National Cemetery.