Lyon, Dean I.

Dean I. Lyon, 97, a resident of Northbrook Manor Care Center, died there on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. Services: 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids by the Rev. Gary Brooks. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial: Shiloh Cemetery, Hiawatha.

Survivors include his daughter, Deanna (Darrell) Sanden of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren, Dawn Cook and her friend, John Schaefer, Sherry (Steve) Will, Doug (Laurie) Sanden and Mike (Tracy) Sanden; six great-grandchildren, Adam (Marisa) Will, Mindy Sanden, Lucas Will, Sara (Troy) Kowalski, Leah Will and Ashley Springer; and three great-great-grandchildren, Anthony and Mia Huber and Taylor Springer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Evelyn; three sisters, Ione Wenger, Lera Flitsch Houts and Jessie Fattig; and his grandson-in-law, Doug Cook.

Dean was born July 16, 1914, the son of Jesse Grant and Irena (Mohler) Lyon north of Alburnett. When he was seven, they moved to Marion, to the octagon house on Ninth Street. They attended Marion Christian Church, where he was baptized. When he was 12, he won the Linn County Spelling Bee and got to go to Des Moines for the State Spelling Bee. In 1929, he won a ride on a Ford Tri Motor for selling the most Des Moines Registers. He never rode on another plane until 2004.

On Sept. 20, 1939, he married Evelyn Louise Miller in Center Point. They had one daughter, Deanna. In 1947, they moved from Toddville to Cedar Rapids. He farmed for many years. He retired from Johnson Gas Appliance, after 32 years. He also had Lyon TV Service for many years. In 1959, they moved to Marion and developed a 40 acre farm making acre lots with roads and developments including Lyon's 1st Addition, naming Dawn Drive, Douglas Drive, and Sherry Lane after grandchildren. They moved west of Hiawatha and developed two more 40 acre farms, Lyon's 2nd and 3rd Additions and named Michael Drive and Sanden Road, after another grandson and their daughter and son-in-law. Dean planted thousands of trees on all of the lots. He and Evelyn spent winters in Arizona for over 20 years. He was a member of Cedar Christian Church for over 60 years, which is now New Disciples of Cedar Rapids. He was a volunteer for St. Luke's Auxiliary and made their baby buttons, “It's a Boy,” “It's a Girl,” for over 30 years.

Dean loved all of his family so much. We wish to thank all of the nurses and caregivers at Northbrook Manor, who took such good care of Dad and Sheila, Jennifer, and Diane who took such good care of Dad at his home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial funds have been established in Dean's name for New Disciples of Cedar Rapids, P.O. Box 8659, Cedar Rapids, IA 52408, and St. Luke's Auxiliary.

Please sign the online guest book for Dean at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Jan. 5, 2012.