Dale A. Lyon
Dale Alvah Lyon, 79, of Menomonie, Wisconsin passed away surrounded by family at home on June 20, 2024. He was born in 1944 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire to Alvah Daniel Lyon and Isla (Dodge) Lyon.
After graduating from Memorial High School in 1962, Dale attended UW-Eau Claire, where he earned a B.S. and a Master’s degree in school psychology. He went on to attain a Ph.D. in Human Relations from Indiana Northern University in New York City, then underwent five years of postgraduate training through the New York Center for Psychoanalytic Training. He culminated his academic studies with a second Master’s in psychiatric social work from Rutgers University and often joked that he had “extended his adolescence past previously known limits.”
Dale’s professional career began as an undergraduate when Dr. Joseph Tobin, a local psychiatrist in private practice, invited him to become involved in the first-ever citywide study of drug abuse among high school students. Before beginning his doctoral program, he studied with Dr. Bernard Aaronson at the New Jersey Neuro-Psychiatric Institute in Princeton, N.J. Both men became his mentors and dear friends as did Dr. Doris Rothman, a pioneering feminist therapist with whom he worked at the Institute for Experiential Learning and Development in Lawrenceville, N.J.
After brief marriages to Sallie Hazell and Lynne Rothman ended in divorce, Dale married Barbara Weber of Yardley, Pennsylvania in 1979.
Following the birth of their son, Brett, in Princeton, Dale convinced Barbara that an “Old MacDonald’s Farm” existence would be a great way to raise a family. They moved to a small farm on the outskirts of Menomonie in 1985 when Dale accepted a position as a psychiatric social worker at Dunn County Department of Human Resources where he worked for nine years before going into private practice.
Two years after the move, son Zachary was born at Mayo-Red Cedar – and Dale bought his first tractor. Over the years, the family has worked together to fulfill Dale’s vision: Raising pigs, chickens, horses and Scottish Highland cattle in addition to Dalmatians, myriad cats and other critters.
A naturally gifted athlete, Dale always strove for excellence in whatever sport he undertook. Baseball was his first love. He was a key player on the Eau Claire Badgers All-Stars when the team advanced to the Babe Ruth World Series championship in Stockton, Calif. in 1959. In addition to baseball, Dale was also a standout on Memorial High’s basketball and football teams. In his early 30s, he took up tennis. It wasn’t long before he earned a standing of 6.5 and was on his way to achieving a national ranking before moving to Wisconsin.
Coaching youth basketball – including his sons’ elementary and middle school teams – gave Dale the chance to share his knowledge of the game. He and Barbara also relished their time in the bleachers and on the sidelines cheering on their kids.
Dale took up golf when Zack developed an interest during high school. Not surprisingly, his goal was to become a scratch golfer. Dale was grandson Jed’s primary daycare provider when he introduced him as a toddler to his new favorite sport. He regularly brought Jed along during practice sessions and league matches at Pinewood Golf Club – to the consternation of fellow golfers until they discovered how well behaved he was!
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Alvah Lyon and Isla Lyon Thiel, and stepfather, Albert C. Thiel.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Brett (Deb Colman) Lyon and Zachary (Mariah) Lyon; daughter Michele Ertel; grandsons Jedidiah and Edwin Lyon and Derek Ertel, granddaughter Madison Lyon, step-grandchildren Colman and Geneva Selvig; sister, Jacqueline Peters of Newport News, Va.; niece, Robbin Spaulding (Jeffrey) Padgett; grandnephew Justin (Brooke) Peters, grandniece Chelsea (Alan) Griffith and their families; as well unofficial “adopted” family members Chuck and Meg Phillips among several others.
Dale’s family, friends, colleagues and teammates brought him great joy and satisfaction. His last words sum his feelings up perfectly: “I’ve seen many people short-change their lives. Mine has been a good one. I have no regrets.”
Family and friends are invited to share their stories and memories during a celebration of Dale’s life at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7 at Olde Towne (903 Cedar Falls Road, Menomonie). Dale’s cremains will be buried in a private family ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Bridge To Hope, Stepping Stones, or the Menomonie Area Free Clinic.