Lloyd Willoughby

Funeral services for Lloyd Willoughby, 93, of Melcher-Dallas, will be held Wednesday,
February 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas.
Burial, with military honors, will follow at Dallas Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the World Wildlife Federation or Yellowstone Forever.
Lloyd Willoughby was born May 5, 1932, in Purdy, Iowa, to David and Jude (Dhabalt)
Willoughby. He attended Dallas Schools until December of 1949, when he did what a lot
of young men of that era did—he joined the Army. He finished his high school diploma
while stationed in Berlin and trained in the Signal Corps while serving in Germany. Just
over three years later, he came home.
In January of 1953, Lloyd went to a high school basketball game. He left with something
much bigger than a final score. That night, he met Jean Mix. A few months later, on May
24, 1953, they were married. Seventy-two years later, they were still side by side, with a
family that kept growing and growing around them.
Lloyd worked at the John Deere Ankeny Works from 1958 until 1987. He liked the work.
He liked the people. But if we’re being honest, he liked retirement even more—38 years
of it, to be exact. That said, “retired” didn’t mean sitting still. Lloyd was always doing
something. Usually mowing. Or blowing snow. Or telling someone else how to mow or
blow snow properly. He helped neighbors without hesitation—fixing lawn mowers,
quieting squeaks, handling whatever needed attention.
Lloyd could do just about anything, and he definitely had an opinion about everything.
His hearing wasn’t great, which meant you never quite knew if he didn’t hear you…or if
he simply decided your opinion didn’t need addressing. Oddly enough, his hearing
improved dramatically at car dealerships. He loved trading cars and could hear every
whispered word when a salesman leaned toward his manager.
He had a servant’s heart and an energy that didn’t quit. Lloyd cared deeply about his
community, his neighborhood, and most of all, his family. He was present—at games,
concerts, events of all kinds—for kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. He and Jean
traveled all over the country, especially enjoying trips west to the mountains. When they
stayed closer to home, Red Rock was their spot. Some summers, it felt like they were
there forever.
Lloyd passed away suddenly on February 7, 2026.
He will be deeply missed by his wife of 72 years, Jean; his children, Lary (Kathy)
Willoughby, Craig (Becky) Willoughby, and Tonya Cooper; daughters-in-law, Lynn and
Sue; his sister, Julietta Thomas; sisters-in-law, Marge Mix and Shirley Willoughby; 12
grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and his “adopted
family,” Frank, Nancy, Emily, Carrie, and their families, along with many relatives,
friends, and neighbors who were helped more times than they can count.
He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Jude Willoughby; his siblings,
David “Buzz” Willoughby, Leo “Zeke” Willoughby, and Lucille Lathrop; his sons, Gary &
Perry; son-in-law, Dave Cooper; and his grandson, Jon Willoughby.