Melvin Lyon

Melvin G. Lyon, age 88, of Alexandria formerly of Grey Eagle, died due to heart problems on Monday, April 28, 2008 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 2 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Fred Kutter and Rev. Ron Tibbetts officiating. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Grey Eagle with military honors provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Grey Eagle and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the church in Grey Eagle.

Melvin Lyon was born December 25, 1919 in Round Prairie Township, Grey Eagle, Minnesota to George and Elsie (Wolfram) Lyon. He served in the Army Air Force during World War II from 1942 to 1946. During that time, he served in the 7th Air Force in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, the Palau Islands, and Okinawa. He received two battle stars, a sharp shooter and driver medals, and many more. After being honorably discharged from the service, he worked in a hardware store, for the Railroad and did electrical work. On December 10, 1950 he married Mae Olson in Willmar, MN. The couple farmed in the Grey Eagle area for over 50 years. In 2001 they moved to Alexandria. Melvin enjoyed fishing, gardening, feeding the birds and most of all, his family and grandchildren. He was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grey Eagle and the Grey Eagle American Legion.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Mae Lyon of Alexandria; daughters, Jeanie Dickey and her husband, Gene of Alexandria and Judy Schwinn and her husband, Carlo of Sartell; grandchildren, Jennifer Swanson and her husband, Chris, Jeremy Dickey, Tessa Schwinn and Trina Schwinn; and great-grandson, Caden Swanson.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; brothers and sisters, Ruth Chapman, Alpha Farber, Gordon Lyon, Chet Lyon and Leslie Lyon.