Lester Alvin West, 88, of Whitewater, died suddenly July 24, 2016, at Fairhaven Senior Living Center in Whitewater, his home for the past 11 years.
Lester was born on Aug. 16, 1927 in LaGrange Township, to John and Pauline (Gislerud) West. He attended a one-room schoolhouse, LaGrange Center School, and later graduated from Whitewater City High School in 1945.
Lester married Charlotte McKelvey on Sept. 26, 1953. He was a dairy farmer on the family farm until 1966. He then worked at Sturgis Newport Business Forms, Whitewater, and then at ECM Motor Company, Elkhorn, until he retired. Lester enjoyed reading, camping, walking, chess, bowling, square dancing and gardening.
He was a 25-year member of the Limber Timbers Square Dance Club, a 50-year member of Palmyra Lodge #67 F&AM, a 50-year Past Patron, Rob Morris Chapter, O.E.S. #10, and a lifelong member of the LaGrange United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his loving wife of almost 63 years; sons, Dave (Debbie), Waukesha, and Jerry (Jane), Grafton; daughter, Joyce (Todd) Dedrick, Whitewater; granddaughters, Tracy (Jim) Kleppe, and Jill (Charlie Fenton) West; grandsons, Jason, Jared and Jacob West and James and Christopher Dedrick; great-grandchildren, Caiden and Raelyn Kleppe.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Beatrice Seitz, Winifred Libesch, and Eunice Helmeid Haas; and a brother, John Laurence West.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 6 at LaGrange United Methodist Church, N8548 Cty. Rd. H, Whitewater, followed by cake and ice cream.
There will be visitation at the church from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 5 and after 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 6 until the time of the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lagrange United Methodist Church or to Fairhaven.
The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater is assisting the family. For online condolences visit www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.
