Obituary-Lyle “Bit” Duane Bitcon, 78

Lyle “Bit” Duane Bitcon, 78, of Traer, died Tuesday, August 7, 2012, at Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo, from complications of a stroke. Remebrance Services will be held Friday, September 7, 2012, 4:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Traer. Burial will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials will be directed to community services. Overton Funeral Home in Traer is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.overtonservice.com. Lyle “Bit” Duane Bitcon was born September 24, 1933 at Greenfield, IA in Adair County, son of Rodney Carlyle and Bernice Leeper Bitcon. He received his education in Greenfield where he graduated from high school. He then continued his education for one year at Simpson College in Indianola where he played basketball. He then transferred to Iowa State Teachers College (know known as the University of Northern Iowa) where he obtained his Bachelors Degree in 1955. On December 31, 1954 he married JoAnn Franke and they moved to Traer where he taught math and science and coached football, track and wrestling. To fill a void of not coaching he enjoyed many years of refereeing with Win Watson.  After teaching for 4 years he purchased the Hyland Insurance Agency which he operated for 25 years until selling it. He then went to work as a sales representative and later an adjuster for CRIS of Wells Fargo.  He was an active member of the Traer community and belonged to many groups and organizations of which included the United Methodist Church, 29 year member of the Traer Fire Department, Past President of the Tama County Fireman’s Association, charter member of the Traer Ambulance service for 12 years, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Traer City Council Member, Republican Central Committee and served on the board of the Traer Country Club. Lyle loved life and people and enjoyed entertaining his friends with his gourmet cooking at their home which was referred to by many as the Bitcon’s Bed and Breakfast. He was an avid golfer, loved music, dancing, going to Iowa and UNI football games, traveling, playing cards and his winter get away to Arizona. Lyle’s death came at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 from complication of suffering a stroke. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Lawrence “Bub” Eugene Bitcon. He is survived by his wife and best friend JoAnn of Traer, two sons, Rodney Duane Bitcon of Waterloo, IA and Bradford Frank Bitcon of Escau, Costa Rica, a sister-in-law Marilyn Bitcon of Scottsdale, AZ, nephews Thomas “TD” Bitcon, Dan Bitcon, Scott Bitcon and Lisa Bitcon Walker and other nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.