John Lyon

Lifelong Waukesha County Resident John Merten Lyon, 86, died Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at Tudor Oaks Nursing Home. He was born in Waukesha on July 29, 1920 to Wilson and Elizabeth (nee Merten) Lyon. Mr. Lyon operated the Lyon Fruit Farm, originally owned by his father and uncle. John sometimes worked 2 or 3 jobs at a time. With an entrepreneurial spirit, he developed two businesses. He was a friend and a role model to the people with whom he worked. John served on the Guthrie School Board, the Big Bend Lions, the Golden K Kiwanis and the Beer City Chapter of the Antique Truck Historical Society. He served as an Elder for the Vernon Presbyterian Church. Later in life John restored six beautiful antique trucks. The first, a 1926 "Available," reflected his personality always there to help out. He was an excellent storyteller, a good friend and a great fisherman. He could fix anything that was broken, including people. He was the best dad, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle you could hope for. He is loved and will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 63 years, Helen (nee: Rankin) Lyon of Muskego and their three children: Reverend Patricia Lyon of Wisconsin Rapids; Jim (Crystal) Lyon of Woodland and John (Sandi) Lyon of Lodi. He is further survived by his "adopted children," nieces, Ruth (Ed) Maslowski of Rochester, MN; Frances (Glenn ) Cummings of Pearl, MS; Grandchildren: Wendy Lyon, Reverend Michael (Reverend Cathy) Weigand, Barbara (Ken) Misch, Matthew, Carrie and Sara Weis, Emily (Dr. Ben) Shier, Dr. Jamie (Dr. David) Floyd, Andrew Williams, Rachel (Tom Ryan) Maslowski and Dr. Erin (Jacob) Sciammas. The apples of his eyes are his great grandsons: Benjamin and John Weigand, Barrett and Oliver Shier. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Maryanna Lyon Demmert. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 26, 2007 at Randle-Dable Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave. from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Services continue on Saturday at Vernon Presbyterian Church, S71 W23280 Hwy ES (National Ave.) Big Bend, WI 53103 from 10 :00 AM until the 11:00 AM Funeral Service at the church. The Rev. Judith Landt officiating. Burial will follow at Vernon Presbyterian Cemetery. John and Helen would like to see the ministry that his parents developed continue, memorials to Vernon Presbyterian Church are suggested. For more information please call the funeral home at 547-4035 or visit www.randledable.com to leave an online tribute.