Lyle Francis Clapsaddle

Lyle Francis Clapsaddle, 87, of 1428 N. Taft Avenue, died Thursday March 8, 2007 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Tuesday (March 13, 2007) at the First United Methodist Church WAYside Chapel, 119 S. Georgia, with Rev. Jim Stiles officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Military Rites will be performed by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Monday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, and one hour prior to the service at church. Memorials may be given to the Lyle F. Clapsaddle Memorial Fund. Lyle was born February 24, 1920 at Orthel Township, Wesley, Iowa, the son of Edgar and Canis (Wilhite) Clapsaddle. He attended country school in Orthel Township III for eight years. Following his schooling, he helped his father on the family farm near Wesley, Iowa. At the age of 21, just before Pearl Harbor, he was drafted into the Army on November 7, 1941 and served six months basic training at Camp Walters in Texas. Lyle then went to Camp Shelby in Mississippi for eight months and then took a long train ride to San Francisco, California where he boarded a ship to New Zealand for a two month tour of duty in New Zealand. Lyle then boarded a ship and went to the Island of Caledonia and onto the Island of New Guinea, the Russell Islands, and from there onto New Georgia combat area. Lyle was then on 15 other islands for two years. His last tour of duty was in the Phillippines and then he was sent to Fort Levinsworth in Kansas for his discharge on September 23, 1945 from the 169th Infantry. Lyle returned home and met the love of his life, DonaDel Eden from Kanawha, Iowa. Lyle swept her off her feet and they were married on November 30, 1946 and to this union three children were born. Lyle started his working career as a farmer and switched to a heavy equipment operator and retired from the union in 1985. Lyle spent much of his retirement time gardening, reading, and watching television. Lyle was a member of First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years. Lyle is survived by three children, Sherry Schmidtke of Eagan, Minnesota, Gloria Morud and husband Kurt of Brownsville, Texas, William Clapsaddle of Melbourne, Iowa; three grandchildren, Rachelle Mineck of Ely, Iowa, Travis Morud and wife Sheri of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kimberly Berding and husband Joe of Nora Springs, Iowa; seven great-grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Lyle was preceded in death by his wife Dona; parents, Edgar and Canis Clapsaddle; twin brothers, Lionel and Leroy; sister, Zerlinda Schnath; and brother Donald. Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory (641)-423-0924 www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com

Visitation:
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at on March 12, 2007 (map/driving directions) 11:00 AM to 11:00 AM at on March 9, 2007 (map/driving directions)

Service:
10:30 AM at 119 S. Georgia on March 13, 2007 (map/driving directions)