Lester W. Wilson

Lester W. Wilson, 85, of Des Moines, died Sunday evening, February 22nd, at the Regency Care Center in Norwalk. Funeral services for Lester will be announced in the near future. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Memorials may be directed to the family or the American Cancer Society. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown is caring for Lester and his family. Ph. 641-844-1234. Born on December 14th, 1929, in Kellogg, Iowa, he was the son of L. Max and Elizabeth (Thompson) Wilson. Les graduated in 1948 from North High School. He retired from a long and dedicated career with Firestone Tire and Rubber. Some of his favorite memories involved being on his grandparents farm learning to drive a tractor and working with the horses. He and his high school buddies formed a "Bachelors' Club" that was active throughout their lives - even though none of them remained bachelors. Life was good when he could be behind the wheel of a car or playing his record albums for himself or others. He was handy with tools and enjoyed being outdoors. Les served our country honorably as part of the National Guard and was involved in the Boy Scouts of America and Explorers. In retirement, he drove dealer trades for central Iowa car dealerships. On May 28th, 1954, he was united in marriage to Inez M. Goff. They made their home in Des Moines and were blessed with three children. Later, he was married to Barbara Joyce Schooler. Les will be fondly remembered by his children - Linda (Ken) Huge of Marshalltown, Steven (Julie) Wilson of Grimes, and Julie (Grady) Howard of Spokane Valley, Washington; four granddaughters, two great-grandchildren, as well as his sister- Darlene Dode Hammond of Omaha and brother Donald (Dorothy) Wilson of Waukee, many nieces, nephews, cousins and longtime special friend, Wanda Wallace. In death, he rejoined his parents and sisters, Patricia Yeager and Judith Hoyt.