Memorial
Lyle James McConaughy, 101, of Sun City, Arizona, formerly of Clarion and Marion, Iowa, died peacefully on Sunday, August 3, 2025. Lyle was born May 12, 1924, in Martelle, Iowa, the son of Eugene Russell and Mildred Fern (Newhard) McConaughy.
After graduating from Marion High School, Lyle attended Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, in the fall of 1942, where he had athletic scholarships. After one semester of college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on December 7, 1942. A proud WWII veteran, Lyle earned his wings at age 19 and was given command of a B-24 bomber with a 10-man crew. He and his crew flew multiple missions over Germany while being stationed in Italy.
Lyle was united in marriage to Helen Harrington on July 25, 1947. After he graduated from the University of Iowa in 1948, they moved to Clarion, Iowa, where he enjoyed a successful 40 year sales career with Matt Parrott & Sons. Lyle excelled at golf, continuing to play after he retired until he was 99 years old.
Helen & Lyle raised their family in Clarion and moved to Sun City, Arizona after retirement. They were happily married for 67 years until Helen’s death in 2015. In 2018, Rosemary Schupp Oja Copet entered his life and he joyously shared the following years with her by his side.
Family was paramount and Lyle was not only our favorite dad, father-in-law, grandpa and great grandpa, but the patriarch of our extended McConaughy family. Survived by 4 children: Laura (Jack) Jenkins, Marty (Jodi) McConaughy, Mark (Mary) McConaughy and Jill (Jake) Sego. Pre-deceased by youngest son, Dr. Jim McConaughy and daughter-in-law, Mary Tosh McConaughy. Also left to cherish his memory are his grandchildren: Jason (Becca) Jenkins, Sally (Dave) Snyder, Susie Elsasser, Lyle James McConaughy II, Kirstan (Chris) Naber, Mary Kate McConaughy, Adam (Michele) Linder & Marianne McConaughy and great grandchildren: Will & Sean Snyder, Jimmy & Skyler Linder, Novaleen & Hank Jenkins, Carly & Lauren Elsasser and Kynlie & Callen Naber. Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law, Bill & Marian McConaughy. He is survived by his brother, Ron (Sue) McConaughy, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation https://t2t.org/donate in memory of Lyle McConaughy.