Lyle D. LeMaster

Lyle D. LeMaster, 84, of Columbia, MO, passed away May 27, 2021. A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 11:00 am at Memorial Funeral Home, Columbia. Interment will follow at 2:00 pm at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville.

Lyle was born in Elm Creek, NE on December 25, 1936 to Ray and Elva (Winslow) LeMaster. He attended high school in Elwood, NE and after graduation, he joined the Air Force and began his career in air traffic control. After 4 years with the Air Force, Lyle began working at Mid Continent Airport in Wichita, KS. He worked there until 1987 when he moved to Columbia and took the manager’s position at the Columbia Airport. He retired in 1996 after 38 ½ years in air traffic control.

Lyle’s family meant everything to him. Each new grandbaby was always welcomed with open arms. His second passion was fishing. Lyle and his fishing buddy, Bob Murray, felt that it was their duty to try and rid the world of crappie, travelling through Missouri, Florida, Texas, and Canada on their excursions. Their fish fries were always a big hit.

Lyle is survived by his wife, Jane of Columbia; sons, Steve (Denise) LeMaster of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Jeffery (Chantel) LeMaster of Lakeland, FL, and Tim (Miranda) LeMaster of Canal Winchester, OH; daughters, Cynthia (Mike) Navrat of Olathe, KS, Pattie (Dennis) Malone of Derby, KS, Angela (Brian) Mercer of Wichita, KS, and Carey (Jay) Mick of Willard, MO; stepchildren, Jon LaFoe, Jim LaFoe, and Jeanette (Hank) Gartman, all of Columbia; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-granchildren; and his first wife, Donna LeMaster of Wichita, KS.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Gene and Bob LeMaster, and sister, Lois Jorges.

It is now time to hang up that old fishing pole and mosey on down the road. We will all miss you deeply, and thank you for all the memories.

Children were always the light of Lyle’s life and in that regard, in lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Rainbow House.