Lyle W. Morrow

Lyle W. Morrow, age 93, a resident of West Chicago, IL, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. He was born February 18, 1933 in Peru, IL to Ralph & Hazel Morrow.

Lyle grew up in Peru as the oldest boy among three sisters. Memories of his childhood included swiping sun-warmed tomatoes from neighboring fields, eating them with a salt shaker in tow. As a young teen, he walked past boys playing baseball; needing a catcher, they called him over, and that moment bloomed into a lifetime love for baseball, a love that led to a decades-long playing and coaching career. After high school he served in the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood (1955) and Niagara Falls (1956-7). He earned his bachelor's degree in 1958 from Illinois State Normal University and proceeded to teach high school at Herscher High School (IL) for three years.

In 1961, Lyle moved to Wheaton, Illinois, where he began a 37 year career teaching math at Wheaton Central High School, later Wheaton Warrenville South, while he finished his masters in education at the University of Illinois (1963). There, the beautiful Kathleen Cline caught his eye at the teachers' bowling league in town; they married in 1965, and went on to have three children and two grandchildren. Jeffrey, their oldest, was born with severe cerebral palsey and remained the size of a baby; one could find Lyle with Jeffrey slung over his shoulder while cleaning gutters, or tenderly laid across his lap as he graded papers. He loved being a father to Jeffrey and then to Jason and Jamie.

In his tenure at Wheaton Central / South Lyle coached varsity baseball and served as "The Voice of the Tigers" announcing football games. Ever the provider, he taught night classes at the College of Dupage and refereed junior high basketball games at Wheaton Christian Grammar School, yet always had time for a game of Around the World or cards when his kids wanted to play. In 1982, Lyle received the honor of being inducted into the Illinois Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame for his success with the Tigers. Over time, hundreds of students and baseball players thanked Coach Morrow for his wisdom, humor, excellence in teaching math, and especially his care for them. He saved and treasured every letter, card, and email that anyone sent. Even after retirement in 1998, Lyle continued to teach classes at the College of Dupage until he was nearly 80 years old. He simply loved to teach math. And he simply loved people.

Lyle became a Cubs fan in 1945, when they went to the World Series and lost. To his great joy, he saw them clinch it all in 2016 during the greatest game of baseball ever played. But Lyle had an even greater love for music. He sang beautifully in the choir of Wheaton Bible Church for over 40 years, and had a particular affinity for choral and classical music. During the rare moments music wasn’t playing in his den or car, he hummed or whistled, and he loved to worship the Lord in song. He often attended concerts at Wheaton College, and many family members and friends have fond memories of summer nights at Ravinia with Lyle.

The last joys of his life were his two grandchildren, Lyle and Gretchen. “Paco” loved nothing more than spending time with them, playing dominos and cards, playing catch well into his late 80s with them, and sharing a love of ice cream and puns.

Lyle was a model of faith, good humor, integrity, and tenderness. To know Lyle was to love him, his great laugh, and the twinkle in his eye. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kathleen; his children Jason Morrow & Jamie (Tim) Pickavance; his grandchildren Lyle & Gretchen Pickavance; his sisters Norma (Jerry) Dugdale & Holly (the late Robert "Bob") Antkowiak. Also survived by numerous beloved nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son Jeffrey Morrow; his parents; and his sister Joyce Donahue.

A visitation will be held at Wheaton Bible Church, 27W500 North Ave, West Chicago, IL 60185, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. The service will be livestreamed through this link: Memorial Service for Lyle Morrow. A private burial was held at Wheaton Cemetery on March 14, 2026.

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