Lyle Leroy Choat Dec 18, 1916 - January 5, 2009

Lyle Leroy Choat

Lyle Choat, age 92, was born December 18, 1916 in Albion, Nebraska to William Choat and Grace (Earle) Choat. He died in Colorado Springs on January 5, 2009. He was married for 58 years to Mina Jean (Young) Choat of Nehawka, Nebraska who passed away in 1997. He had a wonderful five years of marriage to Vergie (Dorris) Choat of Colorado Springs, who also preceded him in death in 2003.
Lyle graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1942 with a degree in Agricultural Engineering and served in the Army for three and a half years. He was a Captain and received both a Bronze Star and a Purple Seart for his service with General Patton’s 3rd Army in Europe, including Christmas 1944 at Bastogne. After his service in WWII, he was the manager of his father-in-law’s large dairy and cattle farm in Nebraska. Lyle’s ingenuity and forward-thinking approaches to life developed the farm such that it received the attention of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev during one of his historic visit to the US. After 10 years on the farm, Lyle worked for International Harvester in Hinsdale, Illinois for 25 years. He retired as the Manager of Testing and Development.
Mina Jean and Lyle were active in Christian work extending to many countries around the world. They have significant ties to The Navigators through several of their children and grandchildren who have served throughout Asia and Europe. They contributed significant time and finances to churches in each community where they lived.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Barbara Jean Choat who passed away in 1996. He is survived by his eldest son Kenneth Choat who is married to Louetta Jane Choat, his son Larry Choat and daughter-in-law Pat Choat of Houston. He has 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grand children.
While Lyle was of a generation of men who did not freely share their emotions, in his later years he became a very expressive, loving and appreciative man. It was commonly said of him that he had a wonderful attitude towards life and ageing. His is an example to his family of a life well-lived while storing up treasures in heaven.
A service and viewing will be held on Friday, January 9 at 9:30am at Woodman Valley Stone Chapel with a reception to follow from 10:30-12:00.

We miss you Grandpa.