Lyle Wayne Schwedland, also known as "Pops" to his immediate family, age 78, passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Friday, March 24, 2023 in his Laguna Woods home. After over 20 years in remission from cancer, his disease aggressively returned in 2021. Despite seeking multiple treatment options, the cancer continued to grow, ultimately taking him.

Lyle was born on September 7, 1944 in Oklahoma City, OK to Lorn and Pauline (Isbell) Schwedland. During his lifetime, Lyle lived in Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Colorado, Ukraine, Cyprus, Hawaii, and California.

Lyle's love for speed and keen mechanical skills were identified early in life by lifelong friend and mentor, 'Crazy Clyde' Riggs, along with Lyle's lifelong best friend, 'Fast Eddie' Miller. From the age of thirteen if Lyle was not in school, he could be found down at Clyde's shop working on racing go-karts and cars.

A graduate of Harding High School, Class of 1962, Lyle went on to attend Oklahoma State University. He took a break and worked at Pratt & Whitney with his brother Ron as an Engineering Aid. Lyle had the privilege of working on the J58 engine for the SR-71 Blackbird. This led to his return to school where he graduated from Central State College with a degree in Physics and Mathematics. Lyle's first job was at Allison Engine company again working on Jet engines, this time the TF-41, which, in turn, led him to working with the US-Navy and the A-7E fighter jets.

Throughout his life, Lyle owned several small businesses like Oklahoma City's MarbleCraft and American Mini-Storage. At various times, in Colorado & Hawaii, he worked in residential and commercial construction where he particularly enjoyed the challenges of architect design, materials and achieving the 'best results' on a budget. Lyle always seemed to be working on projects he enjoyed in collaboration with friends he loved. His love of speed and cars never ceased. Whether they were hobby or restoration cars to be bought and flipped for a profit, Lyle always seemed to have various automobiles in stages of disassembly and restoration. Corvette, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes, Audi and Jaguar, Lyle worked on them all. He was a devoted follower of open-wheel racing: Indy and Formula One. Despite all his hard work throughout his life, Lyle managed to recreate well. He had a passion for flyfishing and sailing. The latter of which he logged multiple trans-Atlantic crossings in a sailboat; cruises in the Mediterranean and BVI, and even a crossing through the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

At the age of fifty-two, Lyle made the bold decision to join the Peace Corp. He spent over two years working in the Crimea (Ukraine) along the Black Sea. He then spent a couple more years living in Cyprus running an import/export business. 'Fast Eddie' ultimately led Lyle to return state-side, back to Denver and construction. Then, as if directed by a higher power, Lyle spent the next 14 years living on the island of Oahu in Hawaii where he extensively restored a grand island home built in the 1930's, known as 'Kalani Lua' (Second Heaven). His attention to architectural detail allowed the home to be listed on the State's Historical Register of Hawaiian Homes. In 2020 he formally 'retired' and moved to Laguna Woods, CA with longtime companion, Debbie Gray.

Lyle was renowned for his love, patience, kindness, and friendship. His ever present need to have a project (He never came to town without an extensive list of to-do's ready to be knocked out), and a deep love for good food, especially dessert (rarely did you ever get away from a visit without gaining the 'Pops' 5 lbs'). Pops was loved and cherished by many - as a father, grandfather, brother, and friend.

Lyle was preceded in death by both his mother and father; and his daughter, Stacy Schwedland Hartline. Survivors are his partner, Debbie Gray, of Denver, CO; his son, Haydn V. Schwedland and his wife, Tiffany, of Austin, TX; and six grandchildren; Kai and Jet Schwedland, twins Conrad, Daphne, Carlye and Sebastian Hartline of Portland, OR; his older brother, Ron P. Schwedland and his wife, Charlotte, of Indianapolis, IN; and his younger sister, Marsha King and her husband, Jerry, of St. Louis, MO.

A celebration of life will be held in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, August 19th. For more information and to RSVP, please email: haydnvon@hotmail.com