Lyle Neely Ridnour, 70, died Friday, November 16, 2007, at the Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, Iowa. Brooks Funeral Care is in charge of arrangements and cremation. Mr. Ridnour died following an extended battle with lung cancer.

A private family service will be held in his memory at a later date.  

He was born July 11, 1937 in College Springs, Iowa to Neely and Viola (Stevens) Ridnour. He graduated from Clarinda High School in 1955 and Iowa Western Community College. He was united in marriage to Janis Carmichael in 1959 and to this union three children were born Angela, Jody, and Misty. Lyle worked at the Clarinda Mental Health for 31 years and was Director of Activity Therapies. He was an official for IGHSAU and the IHSAA for thirty years officiating football, basketball, softball and baseball. He also officiated at small colleges in Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa. He was a life long advocate of athletics; loved horses, hunting and fishing, and watching his grandchildren in their activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Stanley Ridnour, sister Mary Lou Douthit, and brother-in-law Charles Singleton. Survivors include long time companion Rose Weeks of Altoona, daughter Angie Spangenberg and husband, Randy of Villisca, daughter Jody Ridnour of Kansas City, Mo., daughter Misty Bruckner and husband Eric of Wichita, Ks.; sister Marcia Hickman and husband Dwight of Mt. Ayr, sister Phyllis Singleton of Erlanger, Ky.; six grandchildren, Jared Spangenberg and wife Tricia, Brock and Paige Spangenberg, Ty, Case, and Jordan Bruckner., other relatives and many friends.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.