Lyle G. Rodman

Lyle G. Rodman, age 85 of Decorah, Iowa, died Friday, April 25, 2014, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at First United Methodist Church in Decorah with Rev. John Caldwell officiating.Visitation will be at 12:00 noon, one hour before services, at First United Methodist Church. Lyle Glen Rodman was born in Springville, Iowa, on April 10, 1929, to Alva and Monica (Arduser) Rodman. After graduating from Springville High School in 1946, he worked as a telegrapher for the Milwaukee Railroad. On January 2, 1955, he married Mary Alice Wilson. They were blessed with two children, Jeff and Jane. In 1960, he began a 29 year career at Collins Radio (now Rockwell International) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Lyle raised his family in Springville, Iowa, and lived there until his retirement in 1989. At that time, he and Mary moved to Decorah, Iowa. Lyle enjoyed outdoor activities with his family including camping, hunting, and fishing. In retirement, he volunteered for many activities, including Meals on Wheels, the American Cancer Society Daffodil project, and the Decorah Library large print book exchange. He enjoyed working on his tree farm, and was certified as a Master Woodland Manager through the Iowa State University Forestry Extension. He also looked forward to going on tractor rides on his restored Ford 8N tractors. Lyle was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Decorah, Decorah Rotary Club, and Rivers and Bluffs Classic Tractors club.Lyle is survived by his wife Mary of Decorah; his children: Jeff (Linda) Rodman of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Jane (Keith) Petersen of Carroll, Iowa; two sisters, Carol Macon of Iowa City, Iowa, and Wanda (Robert) Wencl of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and his grandchildren: Hannah Petersen of Overland Park, Kansas (fiance Drew Eanes), Chris Petersen of Kansas City, Missouri (fiancee Tera Tiefenthaler), Ben Rodman of Hopkins, Minnesota, and Jon Rodman of Lincoln, Nebraska.Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Alva and Monica Rodman, his brother Loren Rodman, and son-in-law Garth Petersen.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Friends of the Decorah Public Library, 202 Winnebago Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101; First United Methodist Church, 302 West Broadway Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101; First Presbyterian Church, 221 First Street, Springville, Iowa 52336; or American Cancer Society, 4080 First Avenue, NE – Suite 101, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402.