Donald Lytle Obituary Donald Lee Lytle At age 98, Donald Lytle died peacefully at home with family after a courageous fight to live to 100. Proudly proclaiming that he defied death multiple times, he battled honorably to the end as evidenced by his long full life of loyalty, love and community. From surviving the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, injury in WWIIs Battle of the Bulge, and multiple health issues, he was always a bon vivant and tough survivor, known to have said, "there is just too much living yet to do." He will be remembered for his good humor, friendliness to friends and strangers alike, big hugs, wry wit, hard work, compassion, and loyalty to family and country. Within days before his death he was loudly grateful for his blessings and still funny as can be. He is sorely missed. Born in Iowa on August 30, 1925, and raised by his parents, who were teachers and farmers in South Dakota, Don was always a problem solver with a strong aptitude for mechanical work. He was yanked from farm life and high school in Nyssa, OR at age 17, plunged into WWII, but retained and recognized by the Army as a farm boy who could fix anything, he became a military equipment mechanic. The assignment was fortuitous, accomplishing his "lifes work" of reclaiming and repairing vehicles for the war effort, and by chance meeting his French future wife of 73 years, Janine Mangin, at an army-sponsored dance: "Whether you turn left, right or go straight, that decision can change your life." Post war, Don and his war-bride wife had six children and worked their Nyssa farm including designing and building the family house. Family life included camping and road trips, his connection to nature and to the road as an accomplished driver. To supplement farm work Don built a land-leveling business moving earth and creating dams across Oregon and city lagoons in Idaho. A move to Nampa focused on repairing and selling farm equipment at Nampa Ford Tractor, mechanical work at Birds Eye, and 15 years at NNUs maintenance department fixing everything from irrigation to buses. His strong work ethic spilled into volunteer work giving him much joydriving NNU sports and music groups across the west, Nampa Civitan, electrical and sound engineering at Nampa Civic Center, and choir member and sound expert for the Majors and Minors as well as a church choir member. Never idle, never retired, he contributed to the family house renovation business including converting his one-story house into a 3-story with extra big dining area for large extended family gatherings. His construction work was interrupted to care for his beloved Janine after her health decline. Later in life he traveled cross country proudly in his WWII veterans hat, at St. Pauls Church, the Warhawk Air Museum, Nampa Rec Center and the bike path walking his requisite mile a day. Dons honors include the French Legion of Honor and the Purple Heart for wartime heroism, the 75th Division Veterans Association Lifetime Member, and service awards from Nampa Civitan, American Legion, NNU, and the Cascade Collegiate Conference. In May 2023 he served as Grand Marshal of the Parade America in Nampa. Don is listed in the Library of Congress and the Warhawk Air Museum Veterans History Project online summaries. Dons proud surviving family includes his sister Marilyn and brother John, his six children: Nancy (Callahan, Southbury, CT), Carey (Nampa), Gina (Hassan, Paris, France), Michle (Messmer, Nampa,) Elisabeth (Neighbor, Boise), and Jacqueline, (San Francisco); 14 grandchildren: John, Kevin and James Mulvehill and Catherine Lambert; Alex and Fabio Lytle, Alexandre and Raphael Hassan; Jenn Kevan and Bryan Warnock, Monica Hoffpauir and Ben Messmer, Dewey Neighbor, and Madeleine Curran and 19 great grandchildren. Don is preceded in death by his parents Grover and Jeannetta Lytle, wife Janine, brother Richard and sister Alice and grandchild Natacha. Don was grateful for his caregivers, Juanita and Felicity and for Lighthouse Hospice, their caring service allowing him to stay in his home until the end. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations and support be made to St. Pauls Education Foundation and the Warhawk Air Museum, both in Nampa, Idaho. Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 7:00 PM Monday, June 17, 2024 at the Nampa Funeral Home Yraguen Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at St. Pauls Catholic Church, Nampa. Burial will follow in the Mount Calvary Cemetery, Nampa. Arrangements by Nampa Funeral Home Yraguen Chapel where an online guest book and full obituary is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com Services Recitation of the Rosary Monday June 17, 2024 7:00 PM Nampa Funeral Home 415 12th Ave. So. Nampa, Idaho 83651 Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday June 18, 2024 10:30 AM St. Pauls Catholic Church 510 W. Roosevelt Ave. Nampa, Idaho 83686 Interment following funeral service Tuesday June 18, 2024 Mount Calvary Cemetery