Lyle David Matzdorff |
| Posted 2023-10-29 by mhenderson |
| Published by Today's News Herald on Oct. 29, 2023 - Lake Havasu City, Arizona (personal article, page 3A) Lyle Matzdorff, 87, Lake Havasu City, passed away on October 23, 2023. Lyle David Matzdorff was born on March 22, 1936, in Aurelia, IA to Emil and Goldie (Whiting) Matzdorff. He was raised on a farm in Iowa and in later years his sons and daughters-in-laws knew the slang of a farmer including four to a hill and fair to midland. The hard worker of a farm kid never left him. After high school, Lyle entered the US Army, serving overseas. Lyle often spoke highly of his wife Stellene. She grew up in the San Fernando Valley and met in Phoenix, where they married. He was a cement finisher and won the Arizona state award for being the best cement finisher. When they decided to move to Havasu for Lyle’s career, they put their Phoenix home up for sale and he commuted back and forth until the home sold. With one small child and another about to be born, Lyle and Stellene traded city life for a single wide trailer in the desert and drove to Needles, CA to grocery shop. The future was uncertain but together they prevailed. The first Lutheran service was held in Lyle’s real estate office and their son Lonny was baptized at Lyle’s desk. Lyle was proud of his accomplishments and should be. He started his life in Havasu near the end of 1963, when the town consisted of rocks, cacti, and donkeys. Of all the careers to choose from in the Mohave Desert, Lyle chose to flourish in real estate. Lyle and his father-in-law Chet Chenoweth developed a subdivision called Crystal Beach before Lake Havasu City was official. He got to know the land and locations well from walking the grounds while selling properties. He would then have to drive to Phoenix to open the escrow accounts. There was no highway south of town, so he would drive north to Yucca, then take a dirt road to Wickenburg down to Phoenix. These roads were two lanes, curvy, hilly and unlike today’s modern maintained roads. There was no urgency for someone to buy land at that time as it was uncertain Havasu would become a reality. He took up fishing as Lyle would say fishing and real estate were similar as they both taught patience. He would joke that he learned to swim by being taken to a lake and the hardest part was getting out of the gunnysack. I do believe Havasu in those days was his gunnysack. The amazing thing about both Lyle and Stellene is their true love for Lake Havasu City and their many contributions to the community. There were so many clubs and charities they belonged to and all to benefit the community. Lyle was a determined man and held his Broker License for 35 years. He served on the Industrial Development Committee, four years as Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Director of Board of Realtors for many years, five years as Director of Mohave County Airport Authority, Many years as the Planning and Zoning Commissioner for Mohave County, President of the London Bridge Shopping Center, Representative for State Parks to identify areas for new state parks, third president of the Havasu Jaycees and Sheriff Posse member in the late 1960’s, and a former Elks member. He received the Realtor of the year award in 1984 and served in several positions for the Board of Realtors. Currently positions held were Vice President of the London Bridge Shopping Center, President of the Lake Havasu Historical Society, Director for Stockholders for City of London Arms Pub, and member of the Mohave County Task Force. Lyle helped establish Lake Havasu City. His heart was generous, and he loaned his moving vans to the Senior Center to travel to Kingman each week to pick up supplies, among other helpful deeds. He served on the steering committee to organize Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and was the past Vice President of the church council. Lyle always spoke about the early days of Havasu whenever he could. These times included doctor appointments, haircuts, assisted care people and even at the hospital in his last days. No matter where he went, his sons knew the history of Havasu was going to be shared. The last years of Lyle’s life was lived like a real trooper. The independent man who could do anything eventually lost much of his mobility and independence. He mourned the death of his wife and talked of her often. He kept his upbeat positive attitude until the end. He was able to see the town he and his beloved wife Stellene loved so much and worked so hard for to make fulfill the vision of a beautiful community. Lyle was preceded in death by his wife Stellene (Chenoweth) Matzdorff. He is survived by three sons, Lance (Cathy) Matzdorff, Lonny (Shannan) Matzdorff, Lenny (Amy) Matzdorff, all of Lake Havasu City; 8 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; and two brothers. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?