Lyle Ramsay Silka
November 25, 1949 ~ September 22, 2018
Lyle Ramsay Silka passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 22nd, at the age of 68.
Lyle is survived by two children: Heather Freidkin and Brian Silka, their mother Brenda Lowry, his son-in-law, Steven Freidkin, and three grandsons, Ethan, Sam, and Coby Freidkin. He also leaves behind, his sister Joyce Koch, and brother Wayne Silka, three nieces, and one nephew and their children.
Lyle was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from the University of Northern Iowa, his Master’s Degree in Hydrogeology from Oklahoma State University, and completed post graduate studies in Hydrogeochemisty at the University of Kansas. From 1976 to 1980, he was a hydrogeologist with the U.S. EPA where he initially worked in the Water Quality Division later moving into Superfund implementation. While with the EPA he was well respected for his work on major contracts and specifically with the Bureau of Indian affairs, where he acted in their defense over water rights. In 1980, Lyle moved into the private sector where he served in management roles for several consulting/engineering firms before beginning, as a cofounder in 1984, the environmental consulting firm HYDROSYSTEMS, INC., which went on to grow to a staff of fifty individuals providing environmental services in many states, with offices in Sterling and Charlottesville, Virginia. He managed several Superfund investigations and numerous other environmental projects in his capacity as the President of HYDROSYSTEMS. In 1995 after the acquisition of HYDROSYSTMS, Lyle moved to being an independent consultant operating out of Haymarket and most recently in central Virginia, just north of Charlottesville. Lyle has authored many publications and presentations, and has garnered the respect of many in his field. His colleagues and clients respected him for his good humor, candor, honesty, and above all, his irreputable knowledge in his field of hydrogeology.
Lyle was an incredibly generous and gentle man. He had a passion for watching movies and college football, reading novels and golfing. He enjoyed oyster stew and he loved dessert (mostly anything sweet that could have melted ice cream on top). One of Lyle’s many talents was his ability to build, remodel, and construct just about anything (from fixing boat engines to installing new kitchens), he was a natural born problem solver.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The John Hopkins Myositis Center: https://www.hopkinsmyositis.org/gift/
Lyle is survived by two children: Heather Freidkin and Brian Silka, their mother Brenda Lowry, his son-in-law, Steven Freidkin, and three grandsons, Ethan, Sam, and Coby Freidkin. He also leaves behind, his sister Joyce Koch, and brother Wayne Silka, three nieces, and one nephew and their children.
Lyle was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from the University of Northern Iowa, his Master’s Degree in Hydrogeology from Oklahoma State University, and completed post graduate studies in Hydrogeochemisty at the University of Kansas. From 1976 to 1980, he was a hydrogeologist with the U.S. EPA where he initially worked in the Water Quality Division later moving into Superfund implementation. While with the EPA he was well respected for his work on major contracts and specifically with the Bureau of Indian affairs, where he acted in their defense over water rights. In 1980, Lyle moved into the private sector where he served in management roles for several consulting/engineering firms before beginning, as a cofounder in 1984, the environmental consulting firm HYDROSYSTEMS, INC., which went on to grow to a staff of fifty individuals providing environmental services in many states, with offices in Sterling and Charlottesville, Virginia. He managed several Superfund investigations and numerous other environmental projects in his capacity as the President of HYDROSYSTEMS. In 1995 after the acquisition of HYDROSYSTMS, Lyle moved to being an independent consultant operating out of Haymarket and most recently in central Virginia, just north of Charlottesville. Lyle has authored many publications and presentations, and has garnered the respect of many in his field. His colleagues and clients respected him for his good humor, candor, honesty, and above all, his irreputable knowledge in his field of hydrogeology.
Lyle was an incredibly generous and gentle man. He had a passion for watching movies and college football, reading novels and golfing. He enjoyed oyster stew and he loved dessert (mostly anything sweet that could have melted ice cream on top). One of Lyle’s many talents was his ability to build, remodel, and construct just about anything (from fixing boat engines to installing new kitchens), he was a natural born problem solver.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The John Hopkins Myositis Center: https://www.hopkinsmyositis.org/gift/
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I will miss Lyle very much. I see him when I look at our three grandchildren. They already have his good looks. I hope they also inherit his kindness, humility and talent. May god watch over him and reward him for all the good he has done while he was here with us.
I’m so sorry for your recent loss. My deepest condolences to your family. Death of a loved one is never easy to endure, but you don’t have to go through it alone. You can always find comfort in our God of tender mercy Jehovah, as found at 2 Corinthians 1:3,4.
I am so very heartbroken over your passing. There are not enough words to describe how kind, loving and giving you were not only to family but to everyone. God must have needed another angel so he took you. Fly high my precious Lyle! My heartfelt prayers to his family, Heather, Brian, Brenda, Joyce and Wayne.
A candle was lit for the decedent.