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Photo of William Lester

William Lester

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Obituary


William Paul Lester 76, of Clarion, passed away December 24, 2004, at Wright Medical Center in Clarion.

Funeral services for Bill Eliason will be held on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 at 10:30 AM at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Clarion, Iowa with Pastor Curt Miner officiating.   

Visitation for Bill Eliason will be held on Monday, December 24, 2004 from 5:00 –7:00 PM at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home 602 North Main Clarion.

Bill was born on the family farm in rural Kanawha on May 30, 1928, to Olaf and Pearl (Holbrock) Eliason. After being raised on the farm and attending country schools, he graduated from Kanawha High School in 1946.

On April 6, 1958, Bill was united in marriage to Mary Holmes, of Rowan, and they made their residence in Clarion since that time. They had twin sons, who today live in the San Francisco Bay area.

Bill served in the army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. When he returned home, he began farming near Kanawha, which until his retirement in 1998. Thereafter, he continued to farm on a part-time basic with a younger relative through the harvest of 2004.

Bill was a member of the United Church of Christ Congregational in Clarion, where he held numerous offices including Deacon and Trustee. He was also active in the community, serving on the ASC Committee, the Clarion Library, and the Kanawha Elevator Board.

Bill loved helping other, seeing his coffee friends, following the Hawkeyes, and playing golf. He also loved farming and the outdoors, but family always came first. He was an avid Democrat. And he brought kindness and humor to everything he did.

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary, of Clarion,; sons, Tim and his wife Beth of Orinda, California,  Jeff and his wife Mary of Burlingame, California; four grandchildren, Gabrielle and Nicolas (Tim), Madeleine and Ethan (Jeff); a sister Johanna Berkenes and her husband Art Of Eagle Grove; many fiends and other relatives.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Shirley; and a brother George.