Thomas Joseph Lyons

Thomas Joseph Lyons

Washington

Thomas Joseph Lyons, age 72, of Washington, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at his residence following a sudden illness.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2025, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, with Pastor Cindy McKenzie officiating. Calling hours will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home. The family will be present to receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home and prior to the service on Friday. Interment will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery at a later date. A general memorial has been established to benefit Washington County youth. Online condolences may be sent for Tom’s family at www.jonesfh.com.

Tom was born on August 3, 1952, in Evergreen Park, Illinois, the son of Thomas and Lillian Clare (Devane) Lyons. Tom graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Chicago. Following high school, he attended Loyola University Chicago and later received his bachelor’s degree in mechanized agriculture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Despite growing up in Chicago, Tom fell in love with life on the farm during family trips to Nebraska. He moved to Nebraska, farming in Custer County for many years before relocating to Washington in order to be closer to family in 1984. In February 1985, Tom opened his first local business, Washington Bakery, having apprenticed with a Chicago-area master baker to learn the craft. He worked nights, bringing his son Joseph along when he was born in 1988.

On September 4, 1993, Tom married Mary Gail Boese (Dankof), who he met at the Washington Community Theater during the production of The Odd Couple. Mary Gail acted; Tom designed the sets. He worked at Mason True Value and ran the concession stand at Case Field for many baseball seasons. Using his mechanical skills, Tom started his second local business, Eagle Appliance Repair, in 1996. Tom and Mary Gail then purchased Guy’s Appliance in 1997 and Lyons Appliance & Repair was born, where he worked tirelessly until his retirement in April 2022. For 30 years, Tom also drove a school bus for the Washington Community School District.

Tom liked tinkering with and repairing things (mixers, radios, clocks and hot dog rollers for local clubs — he could fix pretty much everything); baking, especially banana bread during the holidays and pies or cakes on birthdays; and fishing, with the plan to spend future summers on Lake McBride in his recently acquired boat. He enjoyed reading Louis L'Amour Western novels, watching old documentary movies, and listening to classical music. He was an active member of Kiwanis AM'ers and the Washington Choral Society, participated in the Washington Community Theatre, and attended Immanuel Lutheran Church, where he served as church council president for many years. More than anything, he enjoyed helping people — from answering questions about his wild and varied knowledge by phone or text to helping clean Kinnick Stadium after every home game to raise money for the church youth. He truly treasured his time with family and enthusiastically embraced his role as husband, dad, grandpa, husband, uncle, brother, and brother-in-law.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Gail Lyons of Washington, Iowa; son, Joseph Lyons of Madrid, Spain; step-daughter, Brenda Boese of Iowa City, Iowa; granddaughter, Addison VanDePol (Trevor Squires) of Clovis, New Mexico; sister, Mary Frances Lyons (James Roy); sister, Rosalind Lyons; brother, Martin Lyons (Mariska Polii); sister, Regina Lyons (Theo Eicher); brother, Daniel (Monica) Lyons; brother, Jarlath Lyons (Roxanne Hood); brother, Jerome Lyons (Soe Tin Tun); brother-in-law, Robert Davis; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; step-daughter, Sheila Boese; and his sister, Lillian Davis.