Bio: Lesar, John (Retiring Willard Postmaster – Jan 1972)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Lesar

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Loyal, Wis.) 13 Jan 1972

Retiring on January 1, 1972, after 30 years as Willard Postmaster, was John Lesar. Mrs. Lesar has been appointed as Officer in Charge until a new Postmaster is selected.

Mr. Lesar stated that not much out of the ordinary had occurred during his 30 years of service.

Mrs. Lesar had assisted at the post office as clerk since 1946, and the two had given almost unlimited service to the people of the Willard area. Mr. Lesar missed work for a short time following and auto accident, and another time for illness. Other than that, the only time one of the Lesars had not been on duty in the office was for a couple of days when they attended their son's wedding. Part of Mr. Lesar's faithfulness to duty is shown in his records, which indicate over 3,500 hours of unused sick leave at the time of his retirement.

Mr. Lesar came to Willard with his parents from northern Minnesota shortly after 1900. At that time the mail came to Willard by train on the Fairchild & Northeastern Railroad. He related how the mail bag was dropped off and the mail distributed to anyone who happened to be handy at the time.

Following the discontinuance of the train, mail was delivered to Willard by the Star Route, which ran from Fairchild to Spencer. It was later changed to a Marshfield to Willard Star Route, and at the present time Willard is the last stop on the Star Route from Abbotsford, which also service, Spencer, Loyal and Greenwood.

At the time Mr. Lesar became Postmaster, postage was 2 cents and there was still the penny postcard.

Willard is a third class office and the rural route operating area of that office, the rural area, and also Rock Dam and Mead lake area are on an 84 mile route.

When asked by the TRG Photographer of his plan following retirement, Mr. Lesar said he hoped to be able to do a little more hunting and fishing.