Beard, Lester R. 1923-2015

BEARD, HOLTZ, SCHAUMBURG, STEWART, NELSON, LANE, BRUHN, GALLOWAY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/2/2015 at 06:55:30

Lester R. Beard
Newton, IA
Mar 23, 1923 - May 31, 2015

Visitation Service At the funeral home
Thursday, June 4th, 2015 10:00am to 11:00am

Funeral Service At the funeral home
Thursday, June 4th, 2015 11:00am

Burial Service At Newton Union Cemetery
Thursday, June 4th, 2015

Lester R. Beard, 92, of Des Moines, formerly of Newton died on Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Fleur Heights Care Center in Des Moines. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 4, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home and again after the services with a lunch at the First Christian Church in Newton. Memorials to the First Christian Church, St. Jude’s Hospice, or the activities fund at Fleur Heights Care Center may be left at the funeral home.

Les, the son of Andrew and Crystal (Holtz) Beard, was born on March 23, 1923 in Ira. He graduated from Mingo High School in 1941 and then served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII. Les was united in marriage with Barbara J. Schaumburg on September 7, 1945 in Newton. He was a skilled carpenter working for McCracken and Van Zomeran Construction and later was self-employed. Les was a member of the First Christian Church in Newton and also was honored to be a participant on a Freedom Flight. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in their extra-curricular activities. Les was a devoted husband and was his wife, Barbara’s, primary caregiver for almost 30 years, through her struggles with Pompe’s disease.

Those left to honor Les’ memory are his daughter, Karen (Gary) Stewart; son, David (Sue) Beard; his four grandchildren, Cari (Matt) Nelson, Mandy (Jason) Lane, Allison (Michael) Bruhn, and Jamie (Andrea) Beard; seven great-grandchildren; his brother, Larry (Kathryn) Beard; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Barbara in 2014; and his sister, Betty Galloway.

A special thanks to his “family” at Fleur Heights Care Center including his Bingo Buddies. ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa 31 May 2015.