Lyle Wayne Hunter, 90, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
He was born on March 25, 1936 to the late Walter and Alice (nee Panser) Hunter in Grantsburg, Wisconsin.
He graduated as valedictorian from Durand High School in 1954. After graduating from Whitewater State College in 1958 with degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry, he taught mathematics for three years in Spring Valley, WI, and one year in New Holstein, WI. In 1964 he received his Master’s Degree from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 1965 he was employed at UW-Whitewater, first in the Math Department for four years and for the rest of this career in the Computer Center retiring in 2000 as the Technology Coordinator.
Lyle married Dawn (Brooke) Hunter on June 8, 1963. They had two sons, Kyle in 1967 and Andrew in 1968. Lyle was a wonderful husband and father. He was an avid golfer, playing for over 60 years and getting a hole-in-one on the fourth hole at the Whitewater Country Club in 2004. He played softball in the city league in the 60’s and played noon-hour basketball with a group of fellow faculty members who called themselves “The Mushrooms.” He loved the outdoors and discovered many agates in dry creek beds across Minnesota and Wisconsin. He enjoyed traveling in his retirement especially boat cruises with 24/7 food offerings and wonderful scenery. He loved walking and for years walked three miles five days a week. On his walks he often picked up stray pieces of metal for Dawn to use in her found-object art. Thanks to his wife, he developed an appreciation for art, art shows and galleries.
In retirement, Lyle and Dawn spent their winters as “snow birds” in the desert of Palm Springs, CA, where they made lifelong friends.
From the time they started dating and on through their life together, they held hands when they walked. People often commented on it. Dawn would say it started as passion and ended up as “Balance.”
He is preceded in death by his mother Alice and father Walter, brothers Gerald and Ronald, and his aunt Arlene Bush.
He is survived by his wife Dawn, of almost 63 years, sons Kyle and Andrew (Ruda), and his “adopted” family, the Reichwalds: Althea and her parents Lacey and Dustin. His surviving siblings include brothers Mike and Duane (Mary), and his sisters Karen and Carol, along with his many beloved nieces and nephews.
A Memorial gathering will be on Saturday, April 11 at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main Street. A visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m., a Celebration of Life at 2:00 and a reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Whitewater Arts Alliance or the Whitewater Food Pantry.
Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family.
