Lloyd was born to Harry and Rosa (Richey) Mathews on February 8, 1926 on the family farm near Argyle, Iowa. He was the middle child of three boys. As a youth he always liked to work with the livestock and help his mother with the garden and housework. He was baptized at Embury Methodist Church near Donnellson, Iowa. His early school days were spent in a one-room, eight-grade schoolhouse. He graduated from Donnellson High School in 1943. He then attended a short course for DHIA technicians and worked in Washington County until he joined the armed forces. He served in the Army and was a WWII veteran. On Christmas Eve of 1944 he landed in Italy. He received the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and an Honorable Discharge. He wanted those years of his life to be a closed subject and seldom mentioned them.
After the service he again worked as a DHIA technician and in 1949 became one of three official technicians for the state of Iowa. His headquarters was in Ames and there he met Leona Ness, whom he later married. He enjoyed working with the top dairy herds in the state of Iowa but disliked the police work of having to report rule violations farmers did. He then decided to move to Postville, Iowa and started the Big Four Coop, an owner sampler program where his duties were just helping dairy farmers.
On November 24, 1951, he married Leona Ness at Palestine Lutheran Church in Huxley, Iowa. She worked alongside him for 65 years.
He was active in the community by being a 4-H leader, Extension Council member, very active in dairy promotions, especially the dairy banquets, did fund drives, and worked at the food pantry. Whenever possible he donated blood to the Red Cross; he did this until he turned 90 years old. He was also an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church where he served on Church Council, was a Sunday school teacher, ushered, was on many committees and loved to sing in the church choir.
He received the FFA Honorable Chapter Member Award, Distinguished Dairy Service Award for Allamakee County, Clayton County and Winneshiek County. He also received many DHIA awards.
After his retirement he still enjoyed working on his farm, gardening, playing cards on the computer along with trying new cooking recipes he also found on the computer.
He is survived by his children, Roger Mathews of Postville, Iowa, Marilyn Mathews of Waukon, Iowa, and Carol (Tod) Wilson of Holmen, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Nathaniel Wilson of Holmen, Wisconsin, Elizabeth (Victor) Vidal Roman of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rachel Wilson of Holmen, Wisconsin; a brother, Donald Mathews of Bel Air, Maryland; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Leona; daughter, Sharon Mathews; brother, Keith Mathews; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold and Violet Ness, Lawrence and Dorothy Ness, and Clarence and Doris Ness.
Lloyd always felt, “If you look hard enough you can always find some good in everyone and everything. Dwell on the good and not the bad.”
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa with Rev. Lynn Noel as the officiant. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church before the service. Burial will follow at Postville Cemetery in Postville, Iowa.
The family would like to thank Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospice and The Highlands for the care Lloyd received.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Postville, Iowa is assisting the family with services.