Lyle E. Cain, Sr.

Lyle Cain, age 83, passed away April 12, 2023, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital with his family by his side. He was born April 18, 1939, in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Bert and Ora (Anderson) Cain. Lyle was the youngest of thirteen children. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1957. He served in the Iowa National Guard. He married his wife of 64 years, Judith Ann (Prior) Cain on March 21, 1959. His three boys, grandkids, and great grandkids were Lyle’s pride and joy.

Lyle was a jack of all trades, by his own account. He loved to tell stories about when he worked at Playland Park, Binkston’s Gas Station, Western Auto, O’Keefe Elevator or Council Bluffs Trailer Repair. Lyle was an iron worker for many years. He started his own business, Cain Trailers, and built and sold trailers for people all over the country. He drove a semi-truck for several years as an owner operator with the CB handle “Skunky Davis”. Lyle retired from the Council Bluffs Community School district, where he spent several years as head custodian at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School. After Lyle retired, he returned to work for Lewis Central School District as a bus monitor. He started a jewelry business, Jackass Jewelry, crafting mostly leather and copper. Together, Lyle and Judie spent a lifetime breeding, raising, showing, and selling horses.

When he was in his teens, Lyle was a member of the “Piston Poppers” Car Club, and loved to share stories of the cars he had through the years and how he had modified them. He later joined a pulling tractor club and built and pulled a tractor in the “Hotrod Garden Tractor” Class for several years.

Lyle loved to volunteer; He was a deputy for the Taylor County horseback mounted sheriff posse when he managed a cattle and hog ranch in Conway, Iowa. When they moved back to Council Bluffs, he was a member of the Council Bluffs Optimist Club; he delivered Meals on Wheels; he was on the Westfair board of directors for over 20 years. He was co-chairman with his wife, Judie, for the Pony Express Riders of Iowa for several years, to raise money so handicap kids could go to Camp Sunnyside. Lyle loved to plant a garden every year, his favorite thing to grow was tomatoes. He loved to bake. You could always count on him to bring his famous cookies to all family events.

Lyle is preceded in death by his parents, Ora, and Bert Cain; brothers, Virgil, Everett, Myles, Glenn and Kenneth; sisters, Avis, Ada-Elizabeth, Arlyne, Norma, Shirley and Phyllis and half-sisters May, Grace, Pearl and Hazel. He is survived by his wife, Judie Cain; sister, Barb (Gene) Crowder; his three boys, Ed Cain (Kyle Russell), Dan (Gina) Cain, Ben (Amy) Cain; ten grandchildren, Danielle (Robbie) Main, Emmalee (Micheal) Reese, Savannah (Cody) Goodhart, Kelsey (Erik) Arias, Mariah Cain, Tucker Cain, Bella Cain, Lina Cain, Wyatt Cain, and Lilly Cain; five great-grandchildren, Raylee Goodhart, Luke Main, Amelia Main, Hazel Arias, James Main; his beloved dog, Tonto; many nieces and nephews, friends and loved ones.

Celebration of Life will be held on April 29, 2023, at 5:00 PM at Westfair. Please come as we celebrate Lyle’s life. There will be food and live music after the service.

Memorials will be directed by the family.