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Kathleen Lyon Obituary
March 2, 1949 - June 17, 2025
Kathleen "Kathy" Evelyn O'Brien Lyon, 76, of Cedar Falls and Clear Lake, died Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at her home with family. She was born March 2, 1949, in Cedar Falls, daughter of Harvey J. and Mary B. "Betty" (Christensen) O'Brien. She was a 1967 graduate of Cedar Falls High School and graduated from Hawkeye Community College, receiving her LPN certificate in 1971.
She married Bruce Petersen in 1973. They raised three children and later divorced. She married Scott Lyon on March 6, 1987, in Clear Lake at the Lake Cottage.
Kathy worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the Emergency Room at Schoitz Hospital in Waterloo. She also served as the head OBGYN nurse with Hedican & Bloom for many years. Later, she founded and operated O'Brien's Interiors, Taylor Manor Bed and Breakfast both in Cedar Falls, Casey Kathleen's Boutique in Clear Lake, and Ladies Fitness Express in Waterloo, until her retirement in 2009. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Cedar Falls.
Kathy was truly unique and creative. She had an amazing ability to see the possibilities and a finished product in her personal life and in business where others couldn't. Kathy was also a true optimist, fun loving, always ready for a new adventure, and was always looking for the next opportunity to create something new and exciting as shown by various businesses she created here in the Cedar Valley. To her friends and family, Kathy was especially kind, inspiring, encouraging, and supportive when they were in need. Kathy was also a guiding light for her family and had a zest for life that was totally contagious. But above all, she was a true matriarch of her large family, and nothing gave her more pleasure than seeing her family gathered together.
She is survived by her husband, Scott Lyon of Cedar Falls; daughters, Stephanie (Kent) Chesmore of Cedar Falls, Kristine (Joe) Rucker of Hudson, WI, and Kim (Jeff) Bond of Cedar Falls; sons, Chris (Michelle) Petersen of West Salem, WI, Brice (Dena) Petersen of Clear Lake, and David (Jennifer) Lyon of Toulon, IL; 18 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Michael (Narelle) O'Brien of Clear Lake; brother-in-law, Gene Galasso of Clear Lake; and special friend of the family, Fran Wehrle of Waterloo.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Patricia Galasso and Mary Beth O'Brien.
Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, Cedar Falls.
Burial will follow the service at the Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, Iowa
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. at the Locke at Tower Park (4140 Kimball Ave).
Memorials to the UNI Gerontology Dept, Attn: Dementia Education Program or to the family.
Go to www.LockeFuneralServices.com to leave a condolence.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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