Lester Flathers

Lester G. Flathers, 86, of Marshalltown passed away peacefully with family by his side on Wednesday, December 9 2015 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services will be held Monday, December 14, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 13, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest in Timber Creek Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date. Military Honors will be provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #839 and by American Legion Post in the Marshalltown area. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Lester and his family. Phone 641-844-1234 Lester was born on January 28, 1929, in Marshalltown to Harlie and Olga (Danielson) Flathers. He was a 1947, graduate of Marshalltown High School. Shortly after graduating he enlisted in the US Air Force from June 1947 to June 1950, where he was stationed in Puerto Rico and Antigua. On June 10, 1951, he married Waunema (Dolly) Beaderstadt at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this union 8 children were born, Marsha (Larry) White of Indiana, Susan (Jeff) Schwend of California, Jerry (Claudia) Flathers of Marshalltown, Robert (Bob) Flathers (deceased), Nancy (Tom) Dobson of Minnesota, Richard (Yorie) Flathers of Japan, Donald (Mona) Flathers of Marshalltown, and Ronald (Michelle) Flathers of Marshalltown. He was also the proud grandfather to 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister, Nellie Hornback of New Mexico. During Lesters career he worked for Clean Towel Service, Borden Dairy and retired from The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad in 1991. His jobs there included Switchman, Brakeman and Conductor. He was on many bowling leagues over the years. His hobbies included playing cards, woodworking, HO scale trains and painting landscapes, which he enjoyed very much. He would make sure all of his kids had a piece of his work, whether it be a saw blade or clock. Lester enjoyed his coffee days at Hy Vee with his fellow retirees. His humor and quick wit will be missed by all who knew him. He is preceded in death by his wife Dolly, parents Harlie and Olga, son Robert (Bob), Brother Wilbur and a sister Beryl Beaderstadt, and grandson, Matthew Joseph Flathers