Lyle Eugene Cretsinger

Lyle Eugene Cretsinger, 95 of Spencer, Iowa, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Born on October 31, 1929, in Guthrie Center, IA, he was the first son of Milo and Beulah (Hutchinson) Cretsinger, followed by four brothers, Gordon, Gary and twins, Dean and Gene. Growing up on the family farm, he helped with related chores, planting/harvesting crops. He tells of building little wooden boxes for the tractor to hold his twin brothers, later carrying them to bed after they fell asleep plowing the fields with him. He and his brothers assisted their dad in building a new farm home. Lyle graduated from Coon Rapids High School and shortly after began working for Math’s Construction Company. While working at a job site in Pella, IA, he frequented the town café where he met his future wife, Anna (Dollie) Bloodsworth. They married on September 12, 1951, at the “Little Brown Church” in Nashua, IA. They began their life together with Lyle serving in the United States Army, stationed in Alaska. This was the beginning of an honored and lifelong friendship with the Johnson and Boudreaux families as they all shared their beginnings of army life together. Following Lyle’s honorable discharge in 1953, he and Dollie traveled the Alcan (Alaska) Highway back to Iowa with infant son Craig who was born at Ladd Army Airfield, Fairbanks, Alaska. They lived in several communities as part of his Spencer Construction’s Field Superintendent work and while living in Fort Dodge, IA, daughter Cynthia was born. They chose to make their roots in Spencer in 1958.

Lyle was actively involved in the community serving on various committees and participating in numerous events. He was an active fifty-year member of Grace United Methodist Church, Order of the Eastern Star, Evening Shade #116, Masonic Lodge #312, A.F. & A.M., and a member of ABU BEKR Shriners ATV Corp. He and Dollie enjoyed time with their family, traveling, parading with the Shriners, taking the family twice to Disney World, working at the annual Clay County Fair at their family snow cone and beefburger stands and working at the fair information booths. It meant a great deal to Lyle to assist several disabled persons on Disability Awareness Day at the fair each year. They loved entertaining family and friends in their home, both in Spencer and Lake Okoboji. Lyle was a great captain of the pontoon navigating around the lake pointing out all the historic landmarks. Numerous family memories were made through the years at Gull Point State Park beginning with picnics, swimming, tenting, camping, campfires, boating, tubing/skiing, kid’s lodge wedding rehearsal dinner, and Lyle and Dollie’s 25th and 50th wedding anniversary parties. They also celebrated their 60th anniversary with family/friends prior to Dollie’s passing on November 9, 2011.

Lyle was well known to his family and community as the “fix anything guy” always engineering and mastering a way to correct anything broken or in need of repair. He repurposed numerous items and had a great workshop the three grandchildren always shared with him. He was an expert educator providing instruction on cutting wood, using a hammer /nails, wrench, and/or screwdriver as they built wooden wagons, bug cages, bookshelves, holiday ornaments and much more.

Always having a passion for construction, Lyle was a partner in Clay Contractors. He took pride in his work whether on the job or off. He was a mentor to many employees, teaching them the art of construction while quietly supporting several through their life’s challenges. After retirement, sitting still was difficult and he began installing blinds/shades in several homes and businesses to keep himself active with his tools and construction skills.

Lyle later met acquaintance, Shirley Wheeler and the two quickly realized how much they enjoyed each other’s company after they both experienced a great loss. He and Shirley shared a loving partnership filled with numerous activities, travels, joys, and laughs with their combined families and many new and mutual friends. Shirley’s large family of brothers, sister, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren added to his and Shirley’s enjoyment getting to attend numerous activities/events together with them. Lyle was grateful for Shirley and her family’s love, great support and care they gave him.

Lyle’s life was well lived. He was gentle, thoughtful, intelligent, a hard worker and he had a blue-ribbon sense of humor. His discussions, advice and counsel to his children and grandchildren up until the end of his life was practical, relevant, motivational, and memorable. He enjoyed people and always had a friendly disarming demeanor, smile, and kindness. He will be greatly missed by his family and will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew him.

He will be lovingly remembered by his companion Shirley Wheeler, daughter-in-law Karen Cretsinger, daughter Cynthia (Dale) Swanson, grandson Zach Cretsinger, granddaughter Christine (Nean) Swanson (Chris Hain), grandson Scott (Madison) Swanson, great grandson Owen Cretsinger, brothers Dean (Sherrie) and Gene (Janet) Cretsinger, sister-in-law Maxine Cretsinger, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other family and friends, as well as his extended blended family, Shirley’s son Dennis (Deb) Wheeler, daughter, Karla Jespersen, brothers Bill (JoAnn) and Jim Wischmeyer, sister Connie Edwards, six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death are his parents, wife Anna (Dollie), son Craig, brothers Gordon (Leah) and Gary (Ruthann) Cretsinger and beloved family of Dollie’s.

Lyle’s family thanks you for your support and prayers. Please join them for lunch and memories in the fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital Twin Cities and Clay County Fair Disability Day.

The service will be livestreamed at: https://studio.youtube.com/video/ooRnsfcm5Ho/edit