Lonnie Sulgrove, 65, of Des Moines (formerly of Bridgewater)

Celebration of Life Services:  Will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bridgewater United Methodist Church with a luncheon following at the church.   Burial will be in the Garner Cemetery, south of Bridgewater.  Pastor Karen Patrick will officiate the service.  The Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the professional arrangements.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Open Visitation:  Will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Family Visitation:  The family will greet friends on Friday, February 23, 2024, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials:  Memorials may be directed to the Lonnie Sulgrove Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Lonnie Dale Sulgrove passed away February 16 just after 7pm at Mercy West Lakes Hospital in West Des Moines after battling an ongoing illness related to diabetes.

Lon was born November 25, 1958, in Greenfield, IA and became the cherished son of Merlyn and Jeane (Adrian) Sulgrove through adoption. He completed his high school education with the 1977 graduating class of Bridgewater-Fontanelle High School. Following high school, Lon pursued higher education at Southwestern Community College in Creston, where he majored in computer programming. A bachelor throughout his life, Lon dedicated himself to his career in the computer programming and customer support industry.

Lon’s memory is cherished by his brother, Les Sulgrove, along with Les’ wife Linda of Des Moines, Nieces Lindsay Foster (Matthew) of Hiawatha, Kelsay Johnson of Des Moines and nephew Jonathan Sulgrove (Meghan Stougard) of Des Moines. His legacy continues through his great-nephews and great-nieces: Patton Oehler, Pierce, Parker and Preston Foster, Blake, Raeli, and Jensen Johnson.

During his high school years, Lon distinguished himself as a formidable athlete on the Bridgewater-Fontanelle Panthers football team. His passion for automobiles went far beyond mere enthusiasm; he was a true authority of Chevrolet muscle cars from the 1960s. For those who knew Lon well, the term "collector" of auto parts holds a unique significance. His 1984 Monte Carlo was his last most cherished vehicle.

Throughout his professional journey, Lon dedicated 23 years to the Unisys corporation, roles that took him from Clear Lake, IA, to Minneapolis, MN, and eventually to Irvine, CA. He regarded the four patents he earned in computer programming during his tenure as a testament to his expertise and a source of great pride. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Lon invested himself fully in a tech startup that eventually evolved into a consultancy. His pursuits also led him to live in Pennsylvania for a time before he circled back to Des Moines. Lon's last professional chapter was with Mediacom, where he provided support in their Network Operations Center. Exceptional customer service and adept problem-solving became the hallmark of Lon’s career.

Lon is preceded in death by his parents Merlyn who passed in 1971 and Jeane in 2013. He will be laid to rest at Garner Cemetery in Bridgewater, IA near his parents. The family kindly suggests that tributes be made to Take Back Bridgewater, a local nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life in and around Bridgewater. Gratitude is extended to the doctors and nurses for their compassionate care in Lon’s final years and a special thank you to Lon’s best friend over the years, Ed Egli for helping to keep Lon’s cars running and shared his passion for cars and car shows. Lon will be missed by many.