Naomi Louise Tietz

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Naomi Louise (Leiknes) Tietz on February 8, 2026, after a brief illness. 

Naomi was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, to Henry and Dorothy Leiknes on September 22, 1939. After graduating from high school, she studied nursing and began her career at St. Mary's Hospital in Watertown, where she met her future husband, Don Tietz.  It was during this time that Don took an interest in the pretty nurse who was caring for his ailing father. They were married on September 9, 1961, and immediately began their life together in Watertown, surrounded by family and friends. 

As their family grew, Naomi and Don moved to Madison, where Naomi worked as a nurse in various healthcare settings. They later moved to Waunakee, where she continued her nursing career at Waunakee Manor. 

As the matriarch of the family and the wife of an avid fisherman, Naomi quickly adapted to life outdoors. In Don’s quest to find bass and walleye, the family spent many weekends traveling the state and camping in all kinds of conditions. It might be 90 degrees, or the tent or camper might be covered in rain or snow, but Naomi always transformed the campsite into a welcoming place—where meals were a culinary experience, books were read under the shade of her red sun hat, and she made everyone happy with her campfire games and songs.  After their children left home, Naomi and Don eventually moved up north to enjoy a more relaxed life. 

Naomi, known affectionately as “Granny”, was a quiet and private woman who opened up most when she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She had a sarcastic sense of humor, loved her cats and dogs, reading books, vacations, camping, and spending time at the family cottage in central Wisconsin. As her family grew to include grandchildren, Naomi delighted in watching them spend days in or on the water. She loved watching them on their paddleboards, boats and kayaks, and she also enjoyed the simple pleasure of kids fishing off the pier. She often encouraged the loud singing of show tunes when they were on their floaties, and she was fascinated by the underwater “treasures” discovered by her snorkeling grandchildren.

Naomi enjoyed lake life. She loved feeding everyone her designer s’mores and going to the country store for an ice cream cone. She will always be remembered for wanting to play Spoons and Old Maid, for building enormous campfires, creating artistic pancakes, and bringing desserts to family gatherings. She encouraged her family members to catch fish, frogs, and turtles (for family turtle races), and she enjoyed watching croquet competitions and taking walks with the grandchildren to the local sandhill. Most importantly, she taught us that spending time together was always time well spent. 

Naomi is survived by her husband, Don; her children, Carrie (Dale) Karls, Phil (Kristen) Tietz, Nancy (Randall) Kessenich, and Jenifer (Paul) Margala; her grandchildren, Hailey (Michael) Krueger, Bell (Matt) Schack, Anthony Karls, Erika Tietz, Cameron and Emeline Kessenich, Caitlyn (Troy) Burch, Christina (Conner) Hardesty, and Sebastian, Michael, and Ava Margala; and great grandchildren Clara and Isaac Krueger.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Dorothy Leiknes; her brothers, Dorr, David, Larry, and Richard; her sister, Suzie Zwieg; and granddaughter, Olivia Karls. 

A private service for her family will be held at a later date.