Lyle Eugene Dankleff of Avoca, Neb., died at the Good Samaritan Center in Syracuse, Neb., on September 15, 2014. He was born to John and Bernice (Mendenhall) Dankleff on November 14, 1932, in Avoca, and grew up in Nebraska.

Lyle married Carol Ann Wallen on July 20, 1952. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953 and served in Korea. He received many medals and honors, including a Korean Service Medal with a Bronze Service Star, a United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Lyle and Carol enjoyed nearly 50 years of marriage before Carol died in 2001. Lyle was a farmer, and he worked tirelessly for more than six decades to cultivate the land. One of his great joys was the time that he was able to take his family fishing. He also liked to trap, and he loved card games with good friends. He read voraciously, studied the weather closely and took exceptional care of the wild birds that called his farm home

He is survived by his son Gary and daughter-in-law Rose (Syracuse); his son Greg (McCook, Neb.); granddaughter Rebecca Smith, her husband Bryan and great grandchildren Ava, Olivia and Owen (Lawrence, Kan.); granddaughter Katie Pasniewski and her husband Tom (Lawrence, Kan.); granddaughter Lindsey Miltner and her husband Matthew (Denver, Colo.); and grandson Christopher Dankleff and friend Taylor Berner and their daughter Addisyn Berner (Unadilla, Neb.).

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brothers Robert and Richard.

Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 10:30 A.M. in Park Hill Cemetery, Syracuse, Nebraska.

Visitation will be Monday, September 22nd from 9 AM to 5 PM; Tuesday, September 23rd from 9 AM to 5 PM and Wednesday, September 24th from 9 AM to 9 PM. at the Fusselman-Allen-Harvey Funeral Home in Syracuse, Nebraska.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to the Syracuse Backpack Program, P.O. Box "L" Syracuse, NE 68446

Fusselman-Allen-Harvey Funeral Home, Syracuse, NE 402-269-2441