Lyons, James E.

James E. Lyons, 72, of Hiawatha, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. The Rev. T. Edwards Breed will officiate. Visitation: 3 to 8 p.m. today at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, with family greeting after 5 p.m. Private burial, with military honors: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Karen of Hiawatha; children, Jeffrey (Corinne) Lyons, Hiawatha, Jamie (Bryan) McDonald, Winterset, Julie Jenkins, Marion, and Janelle Lyons, Topeka, Kan.; a brother, Donald (Bonny) Lyons, Whitewright, Texas; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jacqueline Sawyer; and brothers, Mark Lyons Jr. and Kenneth Lyons.

Jim was born Nov. 26, 1936, in Black Hawk County, to Mark and Elizabeth (Kemp) Lyons. He married Karen Miller on Nov. 9, 1968, in Cedar Rapids. He served his country in the United States Air Force from 1955-1959. Jim worked 36 years at Rockwell Collins, Graphic Services, retiring in 1996.

Jim was a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church. He enjoyed fishing, family vacations and sports. He pitched fast pitch softball for 40 years and was a loyal Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. He enjoyed numerous family vacations, traveling in the RV, fishing with his kids, grandkids, and fishing trips to Canada with his Friday lunch buddies.

His greatest joy was his family.

A memorial fund has been established in Jim's name.

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