Donald Lyon

Donald F. Lyon, 82, of Waukon, IA, died Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at Thornton Manor in Lansing, IA. Memorial services will be held Thursday, July 21st, at 11:00 AM at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call one hour before services Thursday at the funeral home.

Donald Frederick Lyon was born March 16, 1934, in Creston, IA, the son of Sidney and Florence (Robinson) Lyon. He attended rural country schools in Union County prior to graduating from Creston High School in 1952. After working on the family farm for a couple of years, he moved to Monticello, IA, where he worked for the Eclipse Lumber yard. In 1955, he married Sally Guyan and from this union two sons were born: Allen and Michael. In 1959, he moved to Waukon and started his construction career working for Olaf Hill and the Waukon Redi-Mix prior to starting his own carpentry business. As a successful carpenter, he built many homes in the area with Alvin Hanson, Ernie Bjerke, Butch Winke, and Bob Hansmeier.

Don loved working with wood especially walnut and cherry, and making new cabinets and furniture. He also enjoyed attending auctions, flea markets, reading, watching the History Channel, traveling to the western states, and science technology. Don loved working with wood. On April 23, 1966, he married Carol Schweinfurth at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years Carol of Waukon; a son Allen (Linda Sass) Lyon of Waukon; and his grandchildren: Amanda (Michael) Horne of Cedar Rapids, IA, Matthew Lyon of Prescott, AZ, and Noah (girlfriend Emily Opfer) Lyon of Ft Hood, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents; son Michael in 1958; a brother Allen in 1946; and three sisters: Priscilla Colson in 1995, Marilyn Lowe in 2008, and Virginia Treichler in 2016.