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In Memorium

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Lyle Huffman

November 9th, 1940 - June 5th, 2022

A young man in a military dress uniform smiling, wearing a hat, with short hair, light skin, and a gap between his front teeth.

Lyle Huffman was born in Dixon, IL, the son of Harold and Lena (Wright) Huffman. He owned and operated Huffman Car Wash for 55 years and was an innovator at heart, always researching or designing new elements for the car wash. Lyle was a lifelong resident of Dixon and was active in many local clubs and projects. Lyle proudly served as a Sergeant in the United States Army at Fort Lewis in Washington from 1963 to 1965. Lyle enjoyed golfing, riding his bicycle, growing tomatoes, and attending car shows.

Lyle ran the Huffman Car Wash for 55 years while eating, sleeping, and breathing car wash and dedicating his life to it up until he was too sick to get out of bed. His courage and stubbornness set examples for hundreds of teenagers who worked there throughout the years and whenever you talk to a new person who worked there, once upon a time, they all speak with great pride of knowing Lyle. They speak of fond memories and inspiration instilled in them in the time of knowing him and working for him.

The car wash has always had a great sense of family, and that's not just including Huffman’s. All the workers have also become part of that family as they carry on their experience, inspiration, as well as the memory of Lyle. The car wash has been a home to many teenagers and young adults over the years who were given a chance to work even if they weren't the most naturally gifted. Lyle was always willing to give people a chance to grow and mature through work experience which shaped a countless number of young workers since 1968. He was a great influence on all those young workers. He was as dedicated and stubborn as it gets. Even when he was going through severe health problems, he still managed to get the car wash and get work done every single day. He worked up until he was forced away from the car wash and Brad took over. Brad also takes great pride in continuing his dad’s great work to further shape the young workers who choose the car wash as their place of refuge.

Three smiling people taking a selfie indoors, with a man wearing glasses and a baseball cap, a woman with long brown hair, and a man wearing a white under armor cap.

Lyle Huffman, Dawn Huffman, Brad Huffman

Man in red jacket holding a newborn baby, man in plaid shirt standing beside him in a hospital room.

Brad Huffman, Meghan Huffman, Lyle Huffman

A young girl with blonde hair wearing a blue jacket, holding a banana, sitting on an older man's lap, both smiling indoors.

Ashlyn Huffman Kendall, Lyle Huffman