Lester Garnes

Visitation

Thursday, February 28, 2008

after 4:00 PM

Ohde Funeral Home

Coon Rapids, Iowa

Funeral Service

Friday, February 29, 2008, 10:30 AM

First United Methodist Church

Coon Rapids, Iowa

Reverend Lynn Gunderson, Officiating

Music

Malaguena?   Lauren Garnes

Evening Tide?   Johanna Garnes

Piano Soloists

Congregational Hymns

Lula Garnes, Accompanist    

Casket Bearers

Marvin Johnson   George Dimitroff  

Dave Dagget   John Biersma

Donny Mozena   Jerry Stone

Interment

Highland Township Cemetery

South of Bayard, Iowa

   Lester Mathias, son of Joseph and Cassie (Schwartz) Garnes, was born October 13, 1923, at home on the farm near Bayard, Iowa.  He attended rural schools and graduated from Bayard High School in 1941.  Lester enlisted in the United States Army and served 18 months, mostly at Ft. Louis, WA.  He was honorably discharged with a rank of Staff Sargeant. Lester returned to Iowa and worked for Headlee Produce in Coon Rapids through 1963. 

   On March 27, 1948, Lester was united in marriage with Katherine Dimitroff at Ft. Dodge.  He began working for Harold Coder as an electrician, and in 1968 started his own company, Garnes Electric.  Lester retired in the early 1990s and found more time to fish and travel to Florida in the winters with Katherine.  He very much enjoyed time with his two granddaughters.  Lester also kept a garden and, in later years, played many games on the computer.

   Lester was a volunteer fireman in Coon Rapids for 28 years.  He was also a long-time member of the Odd Fellows (IOOF) Lodge and American Legion Gurney Parker Post 357 in Coon Rapids.     

   Following a decade-long battle with respiratory illness, Lester was hospitalized at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines last week.  He died there on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, at the age of 84 years, 4 months and 13 days.

   Preceding Lester in death are his parents; three sisters: Lavonne and husband Paul Mozena; Verna and husband Ralph Clark; and Wilma Erb; and brother Loren Garnes.

   Lester is survived by his wife Katherine Garnes of Coon Rapids; daughter Nancy and husband Bruce Glascock of Caldwell, ID; son Terry Garnes and wife Vicki of Coon Rapids; granddaughters Lauren and Johanna Garnes of Coon Rapids; son Larry Moreland and wife Sharon of Springville, UT; sister Lula Garnes of Bayard; brothers-in-law DuWayne Erb of Spencer and George Dimitroff and wife Mabel of Milan, IL; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.