Dr. James H. Lyon

STERLING – Dr. James Harrison Lyon, 87, of Sterling, passed away on Jan. 28, 2012, at his home. He was the son of Henry Harrison Lyon and Elizabeth Wilkie.

Lyon and was raised on a family farm in Sherman.

He attended a one room county grade school, riding his horse “Bucky” to school, and attended high school in Riverton.

He entered Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) in 1941, and the US Army in spring 1943 from the Iowa State ROTC program.

He served in Europe with the 596 Parachute Engineer Company of the 517 Combat Team.

In recent years he attended World War II reunions, including the 50th anniversary of the Airborne Division, pinning wings on recent graduates and marching in a parade down Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., with veterans.

After discharge from the Army, Jim married Jo Ann Reeves on June 15, 1946, in Ames, Iowa.

He attended Washington University School of Dentistry in St. Louis, and following graduation in 1951, he and Jo Ann moved to Sterling where he began a solo dental practice.

He retired in 1995, passing the practice on to his son, Dr. Charles R. Lyon.

He was a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry; fellow, member of the Board of Governors, and past national president of the American Academy of Gnathological Orthopedics; and a member of the American Academy of Orthodontics for the General Practitioner.

He lectured for the Federation Dentaire International in Glasgow, Scotland; Berlin, Germany; Milano, Italy; Belgrade, Yugoslavia; Antwerp, Belgium; and Singapore and multiple cities in China. Following certification in forensics from Walter Reed Hospital, he became a fellow in the Academy of Forensic Sciences and served as the deputy coroner of Whiteside County for 11 years.

Jim was affectionately called a “Renaissance man” by family and friends.

He was passionate about many hands-on interests and hobbies as a craftsman and artist.

His interests ranged from antique car restoration to boat building, from hunting to taxidermy, from aviation history to native American history.

Much of his retirement was spent building Chief Shikshak Bison Ranch with his son, Charles, where he loved tinkering with old tractors and machinery, and visiting his favorite Red Deer doe, Diane.

He loved searching for unusual items to build his collections, usually of a historical nature, which were always thoroughly researched and documented for those that will follow him.

He was a member of the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society and was active in the recent restoration of the Lincoln-Manahan House.

His travels the world over included not only cruises and pleasure trips with JoAnn, but also lifelong learning expeditions such as tracking wolves in northern Minnesota, studying white grizzly bears in Canada, and observing the unusual habitat of the Galapagos Islands.

He was a loving husband, and a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He and his wife, Jo Ann, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in June 2011, surrounded by family and friends.

Jim is survived by his wife, JoAnn; children, Scott Lyon of Durango, Colo., Linda (Don) Lyon Russell of Indianapolis, Frances (Bruce) Lyon-Dugin of Minneapolis and Dr. Charles (Susan) Lyon of Sterling; grandchildren, Benjamin (Marie) Raley, Lauren Raley, Elizabeth Russell, Madeline Russell, Charles Russell, Joseph Lyon, Jaimie Lyon, Jackson Lyon and Ava Lyon; and great-grandson, Erik Raley.

There will be a gathering of friends and family from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by the memorial service at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Sterling.

Memorials may be made to the Sauk Valley Area YWCA, Sterling Rock Falls Historical Society or Wesley United Methodist Church.

Honorary pall bearers include Scott Lyon, Dr. Charles Lyon, Don Russell, Alan Polhill, Ross Jennings, Kelvin Weed, Howard Janssen, Jim Wells, Dr. Tom Sellett and Mel Shaver. Arrangements were completed by McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls.

Visit www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com to send condolences.