Lyons, Lester Ernest - 1918-2002

LYONS, SLINING, MILLER, GEISLER, HANSEN, SWESTKA, SACQUITNE, WINKLER, LINDSAY, MACDONALD

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 2/13/2014 at 19:56:28

SOURCE: THE OUTLOOK, Monona, Iowa newspaper, March 6, 2002
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Lester Ernest Lyons of Ossian, Iowa, died Saturday, March 2, 2002 at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah, Iowa. Lester was 83 years of age. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6, at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union, Iowa with inurnment at the Hillside Cemetery in Ossian. Schmitz Funeral home is in charge of the arrangements.

Lester was born in Clarion, Iowa on July 31, 1918 to Walter C. and Louisa M. (Slining) Lyons. He was baptized and confirmed at the Presbyterian Church and graduated from the Clarion High School. On July 22, 1944, Lester married Mildred Miller. They became the parents of eleven children. Lester was active in his children's activities and many community and agricultural groups. Lester and Mildred lived in the Monona, Iowa area in the 1960's, renting farms from Elmer Radloff and LeRoy Darby. They attended the Garden City United Methodist Church. They moved to Ossian in 1993.

Lester is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mildred and their eleven children: Diane and her husband Larry Geisler of Monona, Marcia and her husband Rusty Hansen of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Stan of Ossian, Gloria and her husband Leonard Swestka of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Nancy and her husband Gary Sacquitne of Decorah, Dennis and his wife Shirley of Manchester, Iowa, Scott of Decorah, Becky and her husband Clarence Winkler of Ossian, Doug and wife Lynette of Ossian, David and his wife Nancy of West Union, and Brian and his wife Valerie of Ossian; 25 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and a sister Jeanette Lindsay of Waseca, Minnesota.

Lester was preceded in death by his three brothers, Donald, Homer, and Walt, and a sister, Ruth MacDonald.

Honorary pallbearers were Vernice Moon, Curt Anderson, Bob Breitsprecher, Everett Solheim, Ted Becker, Erbie Steffens, Marcy Broghammer, Dale Quass, Larry Finch, Kurt Uhlenhake, and R.Dale Miller.

Pallbearers were Donald Witt, Kyle Quass, Dale Monroe, Jim Gipp, Gary Quass, and Roger Egeland.

Second obit submitted by a volunteer

Lester Lyons, 83, of Ossian, died Saturday, March 2, 2002 at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah following a short illness.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 6 at 11:30 a.m. at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union with Rev. Galen Smith officiating.

Organist was Susan Franzen, and special music was provided by the Country Agents.

Casketbearers were Donald Witt, Kyle Quass, Dale Monroe, Jim Gipp, Gary Quass and Roger Egeland.

Honorary Casketbearers were Vernice Moon, Curt Anderson, Bob Breitsprecher, Everett Sollien, Ted Becker, R. Dale Miller, Erbie Steffens, Marcy Broghammer, Dale Quass, Larry Finch and Kurt Uhlenhake.

Inurnment was in Hillside Cemetery in Ossian, and Schmitz Funeral Home of Ossian handled arrangements.

Lester Ernest Lyons was born July 31, 1918 in Clarion, Iowa, the son of Walter and Louisa (Slining) Lyons.

He was baptized and confirmed in his faith at the Presbyterian Church in Clarion.

He graduated from Clarion High School.

Lester Lyons married Mildred Miller July 22, 1944 at the Methodist parsonage in Clarion by the Rev. Preul.

They became the parents of 11 children.

Lester Lyons was a dairy farmer and continued this all of his life, in various communities, and settled in the Ossian area in 1980.

Lester Lyons was involved with the Holstein Association in Iowa and became involved in his children's activities, 4-H, FFA, sporting events, Jr. Holstein Association, band, chorus and chaperoned numerous youth events.

He served on many boards and committees associated with his church and with the farm. He was a 4-H leader, president of the district Holstein Association, lifelong Farm Bureau member, the Tri-State Breeders Board of Directors, Midland UDIA director, coached dairy judging teams, served over 40 years with the National Holstein Association, was a member of the Pioneer Dairyman of Winneshiek County, a national member of the Dairy Shrine and was chosen as Father of the Year by the South Winneshiek FFA.

He also served on the church council of the Bethel United Presbyterian Church.

Lester and Mildred Lyons moved to Ossian in 1993.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Mildred Lyons; his children: Diane (Larry) Geisler of Monona; Marcia (Rusty) Hansen of Cedar Falls; Stan Lyons of Ossian; Gloria (Leonard) Swestka of Oconomowoc, Wis.; Nancy (Gary) Sacquitne of Decorah; Dennis (Shirley) Lyons of Manchester; Scott Lyons of Decorah; Becky (Clarence) Winkler of Ossian; Doug (Lynette) Lyons of Ossian; David (Nancy) Lyons of West Union and Brian (Valerie) Lyons of Ossian; 25 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Lester Ernest Lyons was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Donald Homer and Walt Lyons and one sister, Ruth MacDonald.

Author: By:
© 2002 Decorah Newspapers

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