Larson, Lester Merlin (1925-2018)

JOHNSON, HOUSE, WISECUP, BLACKMAN, SCHLEISS, LAURICH, PELKEY, PETERSEN, WHITEHEAD, FOSDICK, KIRKPATRICK, TEIG, HASSEBROCK

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

South Hamilton Record News, Jewell, Iowa, July 25, 2018/Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home website

Lester Merlin Johnson, 92, of Jewell passed away July 11, 2018 at his home in Jewell. Funeral services will be Monday at 10:30 am Jewell United Church of Christ. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 5 at the church.

Lester was born on December 28, 1925 near Jewell, Iowa to Fred and Effie (House) Johnson. He graduated from Randall High School and married EmmaBelle Wisecup on August 27, 1950.

Lester farmed and later worked at the National Animal Disease Lab in Ames. He was a lifetime resident of the Jewell area and a member of Jewell United Church of Christ.

Lester enjoyed fishing, making airplanes out of pop cans, doing small engine repair and did amazing woodworking projects. He built his own house in Jewell and was very active with Jewell Senior Housing. His family was the most important thing to him.

Lester is survived by his wife, EmmaBelle Johnson of Jewell; a son, Gordon (Sue Ellen) Johnson of Bettendorf; a daughter, Diane (Paul) Blackman of Sioux Falls; a daughter-in-law, Cynthia Johnson of Eagan, MN; seven granddaughters, Stephanie Schleiss, Lindsay Laurich, Katie Pelkey, Amanda Johnson, Jennifer Petersen, Sarah Whitehead and Kendra Fosdick; 10 great grandchildren; a sister, Fran Kirkpatrick of Denton, TX and a sister-in-law, Lucille Johnson of Waukee.

He was preceded in death by parents; a son, David Merlin; two sisters, Freda (Everett) Teig and Esther (Don) Hassebrock and a brother, Robert G. Johnson.