Lyle Ball

Lyle Gene Ball, of Drakesville, Iowa, passed away on November 18, 2023 at the age of 76. After learning he had terminal cancer, he chose to spend his final days at home on the land he tended, surrounded by family and friends who loved him. Lyle was born on February 8, 1947, in Washington, Iowa, to Howard and Edith Ball. He is survived by his wife, Trudy Ball, and their children: Chris (Jennifer) Ball, Clint (Karla) Twedt-Ball, Courtney (Emmylou) Ball, and Jamie Stanley. Lyle and Trudy nurtured a strong, loving family, a legacy that is evident today in their descendants, including grandchildren Shane, Joseph, Juliana, Simon, Anyssa, Isaac, Dakota, Jack, Aidyn, Annika, and Amelia. Lyle himself was part of a large family. He is preceded in death by his parents, older brothers Vaughn and Vern, and foster son Todd. He is survived by his sister Kathleen and his brothers Lynn and John. His parents also took in numerous foster children. Those he knew best were: Gene Webb, Jerry Ball, Alan Ball, Bob Ball, Karla Castle, and Larry Miller. Lyle's educational journey led him to Clarinda Community College, Simpson College (BA in Philosophy), and St. Paul School of Theology (Master of Divinity). He went on to become a United Methodist Ordained Elder, serving congregations in Massena, Bridgewater, Avondale, Nichols, Conesville, Cedar Valley, Des Moines (Jordan and Greenfield Plaza), Leon, Weldon, Van Wert, and Highpoint. In 1986, Lyle took leave from congregational ministry and transitioned to working for affordable housing. He served as the first Executive Director for Des Moines’ chapter of Habitat for Humanity. He then founded the nonprofit Home Recycling Exchange and served as its Executive Director for many years before returning to pastoral ministry. In all his years of service, whether inside or out of the church, he believed passionately in the sacred value of overlooked people, places, and resources. Outside work, Lyle was a lifelong scholar and lover of the natural world. He was a voracious reader with a wide scope of interest, but most of what he studied, from philosophy to community renewal to regenerative agriculture, focused on how to leave the world a better place than he found it. Much of what he read about, he and Trudy experimented with and put into practice through their shared work, or on the 50 acres of land they owned outside Drakesville. They restored the prairie and woodlands there, and saw the return of richly diverse wildlife to land that had formerly been depleted through overuse. Anyone who visited them there also knew Lyle loved to raise and train dogs–beagles earlier in life, and English setters in retirement. He could spend hours poring over pedigrees or watching dogs work together. His family and congregations knew Lyle as a creative and gifted storyteller. He found joy in sitting with others, sharing stories and debating ideas. He was a dynamic preacher who challenged his listeners to question convention, to think more deeply about their faith and how they might help their communities. When it came to making his mark on the world, Lyle was not one to seek wealth, recognition, or awards. What mattered most to him was the love he shared with his wife and family, the good work he could do to help the world, and a hope that his life might inspire others to practice similar love and service long after his earthly life had ended. Lyle’s wish was that after death, his remains be cremated and his ashes spread over the land he nurtured, so that he might become one with it. Late next spring, a memorial service for family and friends will be held to celebrate his life (date to be determined). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Matthew 25 (matthew-25.org) or Drakesville United Methodist Church.

Lyle Ball

February 8, 1947 - November 18, 2023