Lyle Rychnovsky, age 79, of Rippey, passed away Saturday, September 2, 2023, at his home surrounded by his family.
His family will host a Celebration of His Life Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Rippey Community Center, followed by a gathering with his family. A private graveside service with military rites will be held in the Rippey Cemetery at a later date.
On September 8, 1943, Lyle Francis Rychnovsky, the first-born son to June and Francis Rychnovsky, came into the world at Osceola. Lyle fought a brave and courageous fight after being diagnosed with glioblastoma (an aggressive malignant in operable brain tumor) in May 2023. His battle ended the morning of September 2, 2023, in his home.
Lyle was raised in Osceola and Woodburn. He spent every waking moment he could outside “exploring” in the timber, taking a dip in the creek, and learning to read nature. Lyle spent his grade school years in Woodburn and attending Clarke County High School and later finished his education through the US Army. His mother insisted that he attend a “trade school” to occupy his time. Lyle and his Uncle Wayne headed to Toledo, OH, to the National School of Meat Cutting, graduating May in 1963.
Lyle’s father passed away of leukemia when Lyle was seven years old. As Lyle got older it was his intention to fulfill his father’s remaining term of service in the US Army. In August of 1963 he enlisted at the age of 20 and served three years.
While in training at Fort Bliss, TX, on Nov. 22, 1963, while in the classroom, they were put on notice to deploy to Dallas for crowd control after the assassination of President Kennedy. They were not deployed. The military had so much respect for him as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the respect was mutual.
Lyle was stationed in Korea for one year and 27 days. During his tenure he was decorated with a marksmanship badge for rifle, a good conduct medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Lyle was honorably discharged on Aug. 22, 1966, with a duty assignment at the Army Air Defense Command with the 53rd Artillery Group that specialized in radar (aka “a scope dope” in Army jargon) with a rank of Specialist E5, equivalent to the rank of sergeant. He also held a top security clearance. Lyle loved his country and was honored to serve it.
Returning home after his discharge, he met and married Deloris Pohl. They welcomed a daughter Alice and a son Michael. They separated later in their marriage.
He had a great work ethic that was passed down to his children and his grandchildren, Kelsey, Brian, Zach, and Nathan. Lyle was very much a people person and could strike up a conversation with anyone. Lyle spent over 40 years at the meat processing plant. His position was a trainer most of his career, teaching coworkers on the processing line the proper way to cut meat. In all those years there is no way he could count how many he trained but they remembered him. Several times in Des Moines and Ames we would run into people that worked at the plant and they would yell “Lyle” and shake his hand. Lyle loved nature.
In November of 2000 Lyle agreed with some reservation to meet a co-worker of his matchmaker sisters. Both made it clear that neither were interested in remarrying. But on June 23, 2001, Lyle and Paula were united in marriage in a small country church in rural Union County. They made their home in Lyle’s established home in Rippey. It was agreed they would be another support system for each other’s children and grandchildren. Lyle gained a stepson Wes and his wife Amber and two grandchildren through marriage, Emma and Jeffrey Richards.
Lyle will be missed by his wife Paula: daughter Alice and husband Todd; grandchildren Kelsie, Brian and wife Auburn, Zach and Nathan; and step-grandchildren Emma, Jeffrey, Blake, Alyssa and husband Ian, and Brian; great-grandchildren Ben, Maddy, Octavia, Judah, and Lyric, and added Tru, Faith, Ava and Kyrie; sisters Phyllis, and Mary Ann; a sister-in-law Mary; a stepbrother Jack and wife Marilyn; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Those that have gone before him are his parents; his son Michael; his brother Eugene; a brother-in-law Joe; a stepsister JoAnn; and a niece Ashley.
The family is assisted by Carris Family Funeral Home and Cremation Care, Perry, 515-465-8100.
