Wignes, Lyle H. (1941-2016)

WIGNES, CAWELTI, DUNSWORTH, DYLLON, NOE

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 6/4/2016 at 18:51:44

Lyle Wignes
(June 5, 1941 - May 16, 2016)

Lyle H. Wignes, age 74, of Backus, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, May 16, 2016, following a long and valiant battle with cancer.

Born on June 5, 1941, in Northwood, Iowa, he was the youngest son of Arthur J and E. Ruth (Cawelti) Wignes. After graduating from Northwood High School, he attended Minnesota State College at Mankato, earning a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in education. In August of 1962, he married Beverly (née Loberg), his wife of fifty-three years.

After teaching for three years in Corwith, Iowa, he and Ruth moved to Forest City, Iowa, where Lyle embarked on a thirty-three year career as an educator, first as a high school English teacher and then as Forest City’s first Media Director. During his tenure, he helped design the Instructional Media Center for a new high school, created the FCCS video production services, co-authored a grant that launched the student run cable access station FCTV, installed the first computer lab, developed an in-house repair services for A/V equipment, and provided the largest public automated research library in the area. He retired in 1998 to enjoy both lake time and Forest City time. In 2004, he and Ruth moved to the lake year round.

Lyle gave generously of his time to many organizations. He served as an advisory board member of the North Iowa Special Olympics, president of the Winnebago Historical Society, president of the Countryside Co-op in Hackensack, Minnesota, and a council member for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church also in Hackensack, Minnesota. In addition, he helped to develop the Heritage Park of North Iowa. His hobbies included photography, woodworking, gardening, fishing, and model building. He was a certified Master Gardener and Shoreland Specialist. He played piano by ear, loved any history that related to Custer or the Indian Wars, collected cameras, made a ferocious chili, loved dogs, employed a sharp wit, and was a devoted Bumpa to his grandchildren.

Lyle is survived by his wife, Bev; his daughter, Lynette (Tad) Dunsworth; his son, Greg Wignes; his brothers: Loren (Gladys), Jim (Joann), and Russell (Maxine) Wignes; his grandchildren: Maleesa, Dyllon, and Talori Dunsworth; and his special nephew, Steve (Betty) Wignes; as well as by many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Stan (Donna) Wignes, a sister, Jean (Bud) Noe, and two infant siblings.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 21, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hackensack, Minnesota, with a time for visitation one hour beforehand and a light lunch following.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed preferably to the Hope Lodge of Minneapolis, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hackensack, or the Winnebago County Historical Society.

Copyright © 2016, Kline Funeral Home, Pine River, Minnesota