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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Carpenter, Lyle Harding
Lyle Harding Carpenter, 79, of 702 Stone Hedge Ct. NW, Cedar Rapids, died Nov. 10, 2009, following a long illness. Services: 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids by Chaplain Jeremy Hudson, with military honors by American Legion Post 727. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Entombment: Linwood Mausoleum, Cedar Rapids.
Lyle is survived by his wife of 36 years, Bonita; his children, Deborah Stevens, Stephanie (Robert) Willits of Cedar Rapids, Michael (Melissa) Carpenter of Ottumwa and Megan (John) Haigh of Waukesha, Wis.; his sister, Velda “Tootie” Norton of Chariton; his brother, D. Bernard Carpenter (Cindy) of Bettendorf; and his grandchildren, Jennifer Stevens, Justin (Jennifer) and Joshua Willits, Brynn and Tristan Haigh, John, Jason and Tiffany Jenney. He has several great-grandchildren, including Hunter McMillan and Ashlyn Willits.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Michelle Jenney; and his brothers, William and Lee Carpenter.
Lyle was born Nov. 11, 1929, in Russell, Iowa, the fourth child of Hollie Lee and Candacy E. Carpenter. The family moved to Chariton, Iowa, where Lyle graduated from Chariton High School in 1948. Lyle was married to Coleen Rosa in February 1951. They were the parents of three daughters and later divorced. Following high school he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for over 23 years in the Seabees. At the time of his retirement, his rank was senior chief steelworker. He served in Okinawa, Guam, Virginia, California, Mississippi, two tours in Vietnam, and also in Eastern Iowa as a Navy recruiter. While on recruiting duty he was a popular speaker in area schools showing the sea shell collection he had accumulated from his overseas tours. Lyle was named Iowa Navy Recruiter of the Year in 1972.
On Aug. 4, 1973, he married Bonita Wenger. They were the parents of two children. He worked at St. Luke's Hospital in the maintenance department until his retirement in 1994. After retirement, Lyle kept busy doing gardening, woodworking and caring for his family. He was an avid sports fan. He will live forever in the hearts of his loved ones.
Memorials may be directed to St. Luke's Hospice in Lyle's memory.
Please sign the online guest book for Lyle at under obituaries.
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