Anonymous
The following was read at the ceremony celebrating Lyle's life:Lyle VanDerWerff 9-23-1926 to 9-24-2012 Lyle was born in Ponca, Nebraska on September 23rd, 1926 to Andrew and Bernice VanDerWerff. He has one surviving sister, Norma Jean who was unable to make it here today. The family moved to California when Lyle was 10 years old. He graduated High school in Daly City California, and joined the Navy in 1944 at age 17. Lyle served at sea as an electricians mate during World War Two, and was honorably discharged in 1947, earning a WW2 medal, a good conduct medal, and an American Area Campaign medal. In 1951 Lyle and his first wife had a son, Mark, who went on to become an accomplished musician in Oregon up until his death in 2010. Lyle and Sara met at a party , and were married in Carson City Nevada on August 1st 1965. They lived in Marin County California half way between Lyle’s Job with the US Postal Service in San Francisco, and Sara’s teaching job in Petaluma. In 1989 Lyle and Sara had the opportunity to live in Hawaii for a year on an exchange teacher program. They fell in love with the islands, and that one year exchange turned into three. They had found their ideal retirement paradise, and while they had to return to California to finish out Sara’s teaching career, by 1993 they were back on Oahu for good. Lyle loved to travel. He and Sara traveled extensively in Europe, Canada, and the mainland. He particularly enjoyed the east coast, with its richness in American history. Lyle also liked to fish, and hunt. He and his father never missed the opening of trout fishing season in Northern California. Lyle was a Letter Carrier by profession, but his true calling was that of a handyman. Lyle could fix anything, and was always the first person anyone who knew him would call when their dishwasher stopped working, or their lawnmower wouldn’t start. He was a master electrician, a natural plumber, and a talented furniture upholsterer. If you could break it, Lyle could fix it. Lyle will be deeply missed by his wife of 47 years, Sara, his two step children (also of 47 years) Karen and Kevin, and his 5 grandchildren Joey, Josh, Kailey, Chloe, and Tyler.##imported-begin##Kevin##imported-end##