Ronald D. Attlesey - Lyle

Ronald Duane Attlesey, 79, of Lyle, passed away Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 29, 2010, at Adams Health Care Center.

He was born on June 7, 1931, in Stacyville, Iowa, to Harry D. and Isabel (Webber) Attlesey. At age one, the family moved to Lyle. In 1949, Ron graduated from Lyle High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1950 and served during the Korean War in Japan, Korea, and Germany for three years. Upon returning home, he trained under the G.I. Bill for radio and TV repair at Austin Vocational School, then started his own business, Ron’s Radio and TV Repair. On Jan. 20, 1957, Ron was united in marriage to Jane Johnson at Evanger Lutheran Church in rural Sargeant. At the age of 32, he started his college education at Austin Junior College and then graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1968. Most of his career Ron worked in the electronics field, including Hartzell Electronics, the Bureau of Engraving in Minneapolis and IBM in Rochester. In 1972 they moved back to Lyle from Minneapolis to manage the Lyle Liquor Store. He also worked at the Lyle American Legion Post #105 and the Lyle High School Library.

He was a lifetime member of the Legion, the Austin V.F.W. Post #1216, a charter member of the Lyle Lions, as well as a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle. In addition, he was member of the Lyle Cancer Telethon Committee and a former member of the 40 and 8. He took special pride in having started the Lyle Community Library and served as the first President.

Ron’s passion was traveling, to the extent that he wore out a road atlas every year. He and Jane visited all 48 contiguous states, Canada, and Mexico before retiring, and spent 15 years as snowbirds in Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City, Arizona. He especially loved the trips to Florida and Las Vegas with traveling companions, Orlyn and Shirley Gulbransen. He also enjoyed music, especially Big Band, reading historical westerns, camping, golfing, dancing, and having coffee with his hometown buddies.

Survivors include his wife Jane of Lyle; sister, LaRayne Kleckner of St. Ansgar, Iowa; sister-in-law, Marcia (Fred) Young of Munising, Mich.; brother-in-law, Lauritz (Sharon) Johnson of Byron; brother-in-law, Richard Vincent of Rockford, Ill.; nephew, Larry (Renee) Kleckner of Garland, Texas; niece, Susan (Andy) Hartwig of Northwood, Iowa and their families; aunt, Wanda Attlesey of Rochester; and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law Raymond Kleckner; sister-in-law Gretta Vincent; in-laws Elmer and Stella Johnson of Hayfield.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle, with Reverend Barbara Finley-Shea officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Cedar City Cemetery with military rites performed by the Lyle American Legion Post #105 and V.F.W. Post #1216.

The family prefers memorials to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle or Cedar City Cemetery.

Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is in charge of arrangements.