Dale Lester

Mount Pleasant – Dale Edwin Lester, 79, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, March 20, 2013. Dale was born in Webster City, Iowa, on April 13, 1933, to the late Richard Lester and Mabel Van Doren (nee: Urich).On July 10, 1950, he enlisted in the US Navy, proudly served in the Korean War, and was decorated with five service medals before his discharge on February 5, 1954. In Algona, Iowa, Dale married Mary Joann McCullough on July 24, 1954. Several years later, on July 10, 1972, in Dubuque, Iowa, he was again united in marriage to his current wife, Donna Rae (nee: Christiansen). Dale was employed as a tool and die maker, with his last 18 years at Badger Tool Works of Racine, from which he retired in April 1998. Dale was a member of Salmon Unlimited since 1981, the 5th Street Yacht Club since 1991, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and P.A.R.R. – Protect American Rights & Resources. He was an avid outdoorsman involved in hunting and fishing. Dale was very conservation minded and loved watching wildlife in his own backyard. He was also an avid Packers fan. Dale will be dearly missed by his wife, Donna; daughters, Niki (Danny) Hedberg and Nanette (Tim) Johnson, and sons, Dale (Lynda) Lester, Duane Lester, Donald (Gayle) Lester, Dennis (Diana) Lester, all of Rockford, Ill.; daughter, Ralene Lester of Chicago, Ill; step-children, Rhonda (John) Mavis of Racine, Raymond (Sherry) Merritt of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Iva Merritt of Louisville, Ken.; 19 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; as well as "special adopted grandson" Nathan Mack of Kenosha, Wis. Dale is also survived by brothers, Jerry (Zenita) Lester of Leicester, N.Car. and Ivan (Marion) Lester of Panora, Iowa; sister-in-law, Shirley Lester of Webster City, Iowa; brother-in-law Richard (Nancy) Christiansen of Kenosha, Wis.; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Lester Jr.; sister, Joyce Black; granddaughters, Amanda Merritt and Toni Ann Lester; and sister-in-law Sharon Miller. A memorial service celebrating Dale's life will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home on March 23, 2013 at 12:30 PM. Relatives and friends may meet with the family from 10:30 AM until 12:30 PM service time. The service will include full military honors. Memorials in honor of Dale may be directed to the Salmon Unlimited Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 081333, Racine, WI 53408. "Special thanks to the staff of Wheaton Franciscan Home Health and Hospice and to Dr. Robert Gullberg, Dr. Thomas Shimshak, Dr. Richard Stoltenberg and their staff members for all of their kind and compassionate care given to Dale and his family." To Dale, "From My Heart" How can the sun still rise? How can the sun still set? All of this, while my heart is breaking. I see you in the sun, I see you in the moon, And I hear you in the whispers of the trees. It's then that I know you're with me, Forever!

Dale Lester

April 13, 1933 - March 20, 2013