Surnames: Barker, Brost, Gehrig, Huebner, Johnson, Krueger, Lekie, Meyer, Paulson, Thompson, Wiedenhoeft

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., Wisconsin) Thursday, August 25, 2010, online edition

Thompson, Lester M. (August 14, 1926 - August 22, 2010)

Lester M. Thompson, 84, Medford, died Sunday, Aug. 22 at his home, under the care of his family and hospice.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Aug. 26 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Medford, with Pastor James Krueger officiating. Burial was at Molitor Catholic Cemetery in the Town of Molitor, with graveside military rites performed by the Medford Area Military Honors Team, which he was a member of. Pallbearers were his grandchildren, Molly, Gus, Zach and Max Wiedenhoeft, and nephews, John Paulson and Gary Gehrig.

Lester Thompson was born August 14, 1926 in Medford to the late Emeal Verner and Elsie Elizabeth (Johnson) Thompson.

He attended Town of Molitor Elementary School and Medford High School. He served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1947 during the Korean War.

On June 21, 1952 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, he married Darlene Gehrig, who survives. He worked for Neuendorf Trucking in Madison from 1951 to 1952, and farmed in the Town of Hammel for many years. While farming, he worked for the Taylor County Highway Department, P.C. Kaiser Construction, James Peterson & Sons Construction, Neuendorf Transportation and ANR Trucking in Medford for periods of time as a truck driver for a total of 37 years of driving truck.

He was a member of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church and 50 year member of Landau-Jensen American Legion Post No. 174 of Medford. He enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling, ATV riding, his grandchildren, family picnics, eating in town, picking his raspberries and helping his son, Scott, build things.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Sandra Thompson of the Town of Hammel and Darla (Brad) Wiedenhoeft of Strum; a son, Scott Thompson of the Town of Hammel; five sisters, Luverne (Lyle) Huebner of Mondovi, Rosalie (Norbert) Brost, Betty (Richard) Lekie and Carol (Pat) Meyer, all of Medford, and Darlene Barker of Harahan, La.; a brother, Robert (Sharyn) of Medford; and four grandchildren, Gus, Zach, Max and Molly Wiedenhoeft.

In lieu of flowers, memorials should be given to the family for future designation.

Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com