Edward Michael Lyon 1944-2006

LYON, OMEARA, GLAU

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/30/2009 at 23:27:05

Edward "Mike" Lyon
May 30, 1944-May 1, 2006

Edward "Mike" Lyon, 61, of Mapleton, Iowa died Monday, May 1, 2006 at his home in Mapleton following eight years of prostate cancer and its complications.

The Funeral Service for Mike was held Thursday, May 4 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton with Rev. Dr. Scott Fiege officiating. Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery at Mapleton. Norma Jean Dose was the organist and Georgine Wessell was the vocalist. Visitation was Wednesday, May 3 after 2:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. all at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton.

Edward Michael Lyon was born May 30, 1944, to Robert Bayard Lyon and Marie (O'Meara) Lyon in Ida Grove, Iowa. He moved with his family to Schleswig, Iowa where he graduated from Schleswig High School with the class of 1962. He served his country in the Iowa National Guard. He was united in marriage to Barbara Glau May 24, 1964 in Schleswig.

Mike was a long time publisher, having been involved in the newspaper business for over 40 years. He and his wife, Barb, published the Mapleton Press, the Schleswig Leader and the Charter Oak-Ute NEWSpaper until February of 2006. He and his wife also owned and operated Lyon Photography, with a focus on wedding photography, for over 10 years. They also owned the Ink Spot, a screen printing and embroidery business until 2006.

In 1985, Mike saw the potential of using a laser writer to replace compugraphic equipment in the publishing of newspapers. He was the first in the nation to start a desk top publishing system. He sold systems in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota and also consulted with publishers in many other states.

Mike received numerous awards over the years for his newspaper skills, some including the Master Editor Publishers Award, the Iowa Newspaper Association's highest honor, the INA's Distinguished Service Award, the INA's first "Friend of Iowa' Newspaper Award, and the Iowa High School Athletic Association's News Media Award. He was president of the Interstate Newspaper Association in 1984 and a member of the Iowa Newspaper Association Board for nine years serving as president and on numerous INA committees.

In the Mapleton community, Mike was a very active citizen. He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, a member of the Mapleton Club where he served on their board and as president, helped start a Jaycee Chapter in Mapleton, served on the Mapleton Fire Department and was one of the founders and president of the Maple Valley Development Corporation. He was instrumental in bringing the Maple Valley Medical Clinic to Mapleton. For his civic contributions to Mapleton, Mike was awarded the Mapleton Outstanding Citizen Award and the Mapleton Rotary Club's Service Above Self Award, both in 2005.

Mike had a great love of the Loess Hills and the State of Iowa. Since his diagnosis of cancer, he spent as much time as he could photographing the hills, country churches and rural scenery. His photos can be found in the June E. Nylen Cancer Center, Maple Heights Nursing Home, and Mapleton City Hall, as well as in the homes of his many friends. He also published a book of his country churches along with poetry by his good friend, Georgine Wessell.

Mike is survived by his wife and best friend of 41 years, Barb; two daughters, Rebecca Lyon of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Patricia Barnard and her husband, Mark, of Hugo, Minnesota; one red haired grandson, Damion Scobie of Hugo, Minnesota; one brother, Doug Lyon and his wife, Dee, of Schleswig, Iowa; one sister, Sandy Rickert and her husband, Phil, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; his mother-in-law, Marcella Glau of Mapleton; plus other family members; and many friends and associates in the tri-state area.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Marie (O'Meara) Lyon and his grandparents

Memorials may be directed to the Mapleton Endowment Fund in Mike's honor.

Honorary pallbearers were The Mapleton Fire Department and The Mapleton Press staff.

Pallbearers were Tom McNamara, Bill Monroe, Ed Maier, Keith Robinson, Steve Oberg and Todd Sadler.

Arrangements were made under the direction of the Armstrong Funeral Home of Mapleton.

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