DYSART – The Dysart Lions Club celebrated their 75th anniversary on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, with an evening of fun, good memories and thankful hearts.

In attendance were a number of special guests as well as regular club members and their spouses, including Lions District 9MC Governor Jimmy Bacon and Lions District 9EC Governor Jim Bixler. Also in attendance were GST Lion Judy Stone, Lions Foundation Rep. PDG Zane Vokes, firefighter Brian Sparks, City Council Member Mary Wankowicz, Chamber of Commerce President Nicole Taylor and EMS team member Jackie Obrosk.

The Lions cooked a meal of pork tenderloins with au gratin potatoes, scalloped corn, deer sticks, green bean casserole, cheese and crackers, with cake and ice cream for dessert.

The keynote speaker during the celebration was Mr. Don Lyons, who has been an enthusiastic and faithful Dysart Lions Club member for 63 years. In his speech, Mr. Lyons highlighted some of the history and the many service projects the Dysart Lions Club has done over the years, including the following:

The Dysart Lions Club was chartered in 1950 by the Belle Plaine Lions Club.

Dysart Lion Rick Krug, second from left, presents a 75th anniversary cake to (from left) Donny Lyons, Don Lyons (second from right), and Sherry Lyons on Thursday, Oct. 16, as part of the club’s anniversary celebration. Don Lyons, a 63-year member of the club, was the keynote speaker. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN TANNER

The Dysart Lions have been responsible for the funding of the 1959 Dysart swimming pool, the building of the park tennis court and baseball court, and most recently, they donated signs for the new pickleball court.

The Dysart Lions Club also funded the Lions Concession Stand, the open shelter and the closed shelter in the Dysart Park, and most recently, the 40-foot storage building to store equipment for the Little League baseball teams and the football team.

The Dysart Lions Club further funds and organizes the 4th of July parade, Lions KidSight vision screening, scholarships for special needs kids to attend Camp Courageous, scholarships for five graduating seniors yearly, funding and distributing yearly Christmas Cheer Boxes, and club monies go toward disaster relief.

Dysart Lions are active in serving at the concession stand in the park, helping supply eyeglasses to students at the local elementary and middle school and hearing aids to those in need, as well as numerous other community services.

At the close of Lyons’ speech, he requested that his dear friend Judy Stone of Marshalltown approach him so he could present to her the new Dysart Lions Club pins.

Dysart Lions Club 75th anniversary cake. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN TANNER

Funding for community projects comes from the generosity of the community as they support the fundraisers; two fish fries and two “World Famous Tenderloin” suppers.

The 75th anniversary celebration was a great time of underscoring why the Dysart Lions Club exists. “We Serve” is not only a motto but it is the guiding principle of the Dysart Lions Club.

If you are interested in joining the Dysart Lions and being part of their goal of helping the community, you can receive more information from the new Lions Club brochure or reach out to Lion Ken Tanner at ktanner999@gmail.com.

Judy Stone and Don Lyons. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN TANNER

Left to right: Don Lyons, Sherry Lyons (Don Lyons’ daughter-in-law), Greg Lyons (Don Lyons’ son), Daniel Hartwig, Jimmy Bacon, Judy Stone, and Jim Bixler. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN TANNER

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN TANNER