Lyle “Sunny” Charles Williams, Jr., 84

Published 12:05 pm Thursday, July 3, 2025

Lyle “Sunny” Charles Williams, Jr., 84

Lyle “Sunny” Charles Williams, Jr., age 84, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Marys Campus. Sunny was born to Lyle Sr. and Arline (Ford) Williams on February 2, 1941, in Eagle Grove, Iowa. He graduated from Adams High School in 1960. Sunny was united in marriage to Cheryl Nelson on June 9, 1962, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Their union was blessed with three children.

Sunny began his career as a mechanic at Sears and Kmart before joining Penske, where he dedicated 38 years of his life. Sunny lived in Cedar Falls and Waterloo before returning to Austin in 1970. During his time in Waterloo, he also worked for John Deere and Waterloo Industries, where he enjoyed operating the forklift. Sunny later founded his own stump grinding company, first known as D & L Stump Grinding and later as Williams Stump Grinding. His passion for stump grinding was inspired by Cheryl’s father and became a family endeavor. Sunny was known for his strong work ethic, never charging churches for his services and ensuring he took Sundays off to spend with family.

Sunny was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Austin and in his younger years, actively participated in the Boy Scouts and FFA, where he was nominated as Star Farmer. He had a passion for motorcycles, often riding to Sturgis, and was a true animal lover who found joy in watching and feeding wild animals.

Survivors include his wife, Cheryl; son, Neal (Carmen Wilkinson) Williams; daughter, Christine (Travis) Kutzbach; 13 grandchildren, Troy, Drew (Simone), Blake (Katie), Jade (Blake), Landon, Leslie (Andrew), Raven (Lance), Joshua (Heather), Isaiah, Payton, Bailey, Colby, and Caitlyn; and 11 great-grandchildren with one on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle Sr. and Arline; daughter, Connie; and sister, Catherine.

A memorial service for Sunny will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025, at Grace Lutheran Church in Austin. The visitation will take place from 9:30-11:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery, Austin at a later date. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.