Lyle J. Mahin

Lyle was born on Nov. 30th, 1934, to Howard and Thelma Mahin in Jewell County, KS, and was their only Child. He spent his youth enjoying many aspects of rural life but was also depended on greatly by his Dad to assist in the family Blacksmith and Welding shop in Randall, KS. He graduated from Randall Rural H.S. in 1952. Lyle entered the U.S. Army in 1953 with stops at Ft. Jackson, S.C and an 18-month deployment to W. Germany to help “Watch those Russians” with R&R in London and Paris (New Year’s Eve at the Follies Bergère). He left active duty in 1956 and gained employment at Boeing in Wichita, KS as a welder and sheet metal fabricator. He met his childhood sweetheart, Donna Carlson in Morganville, KS and their relationship led to marriage on Sept. 8th, 1957. Son Patrick arrived on Oct. 12th, 1958.

Boeing Field Services sent Lyle, Donna and Patrick to El Paso, TX, Chicopee Falls, MASS, Great Falls, MT and Travis AFB, CA for his assignments. Lyle needed to be settled down as Patrick was starting school, he had positions with Cessna and Beech Aircraft in Wichita where he operated the Electron Beam Welder which at the time was state of the art. In March,1967, he decided that he would sign a contract to serve his Country as a civilian contractor and departed for an assignment at Phu Loi, RVN to maintain and repair helicopters and was a supervisor. He returned home in Nov. of ’67 to Donna and Pat and he then acquired employment in Kansas City with TWA and in 1982 departed for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for a 3-month stint. He retired from TWA as an Inspector in 1996.

He and Donna travelled extensively in the U.S. and to Europe seeing the sights in Brussels, Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Athens. They also visited Patrick in Tokyo while he was at Iwakuni Marine Air Station for his 21st birthday.

Lyle was a member of Alpha Masonic Lodge in NKC and an active Shriner with Ararat Temple. He joined the Legion of Honor Unit (for Veterans) and progressed as the Unit and Central States Commander, and in 1981, ran for the National position and was elected. He served on the line until he became the International Commander in 1987. This position saw him lay a Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Nat’l Cemetery. He also was a member of the American Legion Post in Smithville, Mo. Also, an Honorary Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

Lyle is preceded in death by his Parents, his Wife of 55 years, Donna, Brother-in-Law Carl Vernon Carlson. Close friends Ernie Sexton and Dan Sheffield.

He is survived by his Son, Patrick; His Wife, Carrie; and Grandchildren Cory and Trevor and Great-Granddaughter Lila. Brother and Sister -in-Law Loy and Orpha Carlson. Many, Many Cousins. His close friends from his work life, Ernie Runte, Jack Maliske, Lloyd Canning, and Paul Neidig. Randall, KS friends Don Robinett and Roger Houghton.

Lyle was a supporter of the Disabled American Veterans and the USO. Please consider donating to these Organizations in his memory.