Lyle Jay Stevenson, 91, of Edwardsburg, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 21, 2022, after a brief illness. 

Lyle was preceded in death by parents Jess and Edith; a brother Bill, a sister Dora Clausen and a grandson, Jason Samo.

Lyle is the patriarch of a very large family and survived by many who will miss him: wife Suzanne; children, Sue (Randy) Hatfield, Cindy Samo, Pattie Mitchell, Lance (Jane) Stevenson, and Kimberly Harris; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Carolyn Stevenson; brothers-in-law Donald (Karen) and Jerry (Judy) Duck; and many nieces and nephews.

Born Aug. 1, 1930, Lyle grew up in Mishawaka and graduated from John Adams High School. After his service in the Navy during the Korean War, Lyle married Suzanne in 1953. From there Lyle took on the two proudest roles of his life, as husband and father. Lyle and Susie raised five children and grandchildren in Edwardsburg where you would find them attending an Eddies' football game or watching the grandkids at any number of Little League or school sporting events. Nothing was more important to Lyle than his family; his high morals and principles have been stamped on all of them.

A close second, of course, were Lyle's animals, which were aplenty in the Stevenson house. Animals held a special place in Lyle's heart and he welcomed pets of all kinds (donkeys, goats, and raccoons to name a few), a tradition passed on to his children. Lyle would always be willing to take in an animal that needed a home.

Lyle was fortunate to enjoy 30 years of retirement after working at Elkhart Products where his many abilities were appreciated. Lyle had talented and powerful hands that he would use at work and at home to build, improve, fix or repair whatever was needed (and sometimes those that were not). He was an excellent machinist, woodworker and fisherman.

Lyle will be remembered enjoying life fishing with his family in the Fortune Lakes in Crystal Falls, Michigan, or Rice Lake in Peterborough, Ontario, watching a ballgame, and enjoying the average day sitting out at the picnic table with a Popsicle and family.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to: Ontwa Baptist Church, P.O. Box 239, Edwardsburg, MI 49112, or Cass County Animal Control, 323 M-62 North, Cassopolis, MI 49031, or Just Giants Rescue, P.O. Box 358, Oswego, IL 60543.

Viewing will be at the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 W. Main St., Edwardsburg, on Sunday, Feb. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m.. The funeral service will be on Monday, Feb. 28, at the Ontwa Baptist Church, 69946 Elkhart Road, Edwardsburg, at 2 p.m., with viewing one hour before service at the church. Interment will follow at Adamsville Cemetery.

Arrangements are by the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg.