George R. Lester

George Lester, 94, of Clarion, passed away Friday, November 6, 2015, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

A Mass of Christian Burial for George Lester will be held at 10:30AM on Monday, November 9, 2015, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 608 2nd Avenue North East in Clarion, with Reverend Jerry Blake officiating.  Burial will follow at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, November 8, 2015, at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, with a Rosary beginning at 2:45 PM.

George Robert Lester was born November 3, 1921, in Rowan, Iowa to Herbert James and Harriett Louise (Poolman) Lester. He attended public school in Rowan and graduated from Clarion High School in 1940. After high school he worked at the bowling alley setting pins and for Hagies helping them farm.  He was drafted into the United States Army in 1942, and served until 1946.  He returned home from the service and worked for Clarence Mickelson hauling garbage. On December 31, 1946, he was united in marriage to Jean Hocraffer at Holy Family Church in Mason City. To this union two daughters were born, Kathy and Colleen. He later worked for Vern Lewellyn doing electrical work before obtaining his last job from which he retired after twenty years as a junior high custodian and a bus driver at the Clarion Schools.

For many years he and his brothers enjoyed bowling at Hi Hatt Lanes. He also loved to golf, and watching baseball and football on television. He was a member of the St. John’s Parish of Clarion and VFW Post 2612 and American Legion Post 246.

George is survived by his daughters, Kathy Lester of Clarion and Colleen (Stan) Parks of Clarion; sister, Betty Olson of South Dakota; step grandchildren, Terry (Gwen) Parks of Des Moines and Tabi Churchill of Altoona; step great-grandchildren, Cordell and Wiley Parks and Brome and Sage Churchill; brother in law, Robert (Mary Jean) Hocraffer of Clarion and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, in 1995; parents, Herbert and Louise; brothers, Herb, William and Vern and infant siblings, Lawrence and Harriett.