Lester L Biehler
(March 18, 1912 – September 07, 2008)
Lester L. Biehler, 96, of Galesburg, Illinois, formerly of Peoria and Shelbyville, Illinois, went home to the Lord at 10:55 p.m. Sunday, September 7, 2008 at Seminary Manor Nursing Home, Galesburg, Illinois.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Shelbyville, Illinois with Rev. E. Wade Helmkamp officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Saturday in the Church. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville with military rites by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Memorials may be given in Lester’s name to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1201 N. Chestnut St., Shelbyville, IL 62562.
Mr. Biehler was born on March 18, 1912 in Shelby County, Illinois. Lester was the oldest of 9 children born to Louie and Louise (Popendieker) Biehler. He married Gertrude F. Krile on Easter Sunday, April 25, 1943, at Grace Lutheran Church in Strasburg, Illinois. She preceded him in death on June 6, 2008. Lester lived all his life in Shelbyville, Illinois, until the last few years in Peoria and Galesburg near his daughter, Jane. He attended Boone Grade School and graduated in 1930 from Shelbyville High School. He was a member of 4-H where in 1929, he won a State Dairy Heifer Project Championship at the International Livestock Show in Chicago, Illinois. He had been previously selected as the Shelby County Champion, which resulted in his attendance at and winning of the state championship. As a result, all the various state champions from every division in 4-H from all over the United States then entered a writing contest for International Harvester Company of which Lester received the Honorable Mention award.
He was a World War II veteran in the Army Air Corp achieving the rank of Sergeant. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a city and rural mail carrier for 41 years, retiring in 1981. He also farmed East of Shelbyville. Lester was an active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Shelbyville where he was the Treasurer for 25 years. He was also a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Peoria, Illinois.
Surviving are two daughters, Judith (Darrell) Logan of Holland, Nebraska, and Jane (Stephen) Peterson of Dahinda, Illinois; four grandchildren, Scott Logan and wife Amy of Firth, Nebraska, Kimberly (Peterson) Hagan and husband Robert of Pompano Beach, Florida, Nikki (Logan) Knudsen and husband Jon of Roca, Nebraska and Marc Peterson and wife Starr of Chicago, Illinois; five great grandchildren, Joshua and Sarah Logan and Alexa, Tyler and Jayden Knudsen all of Nebraska. Lester was affectionately known as “Poppy” to all his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Frances Biehler of Shelbyville; and two sisters-in-law, Betty Jean Biehler of Shelbyville and Shirley Hick of Sun City West, Arizona.
Lester was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Franklin (twin brother of Frances), Clarence and Raymond, and sisters Selma, Inez and Ruby Biehler and Helen Richards.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Shelbyville, Illinois with Rev. E. Wade Helmkamp officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Saturday in the Church. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville with military rites by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Memorials may be given in Lester’s name to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1201 N. Chestnut St., Shelbyville, IL 62562.
Mr. Biehler was born on March 18, 1912 in Shelby County, Illinois. Lester was the oldest of 9 children born to Louie and Louise (Popendieker) Biehler. He married Gertrude F. Krile on Easter Sunday, April 25, 1943, at Grace Lutheran Church in Strasburg, Illinois. She preceded him in death on June 6, 2008. Lester lived all his life in Shelbyville, Illinois, until the last few years in Peoria and Galesburg near his daughter, Jane. He attended Boone Grade School and graduated in 1930 from Shelbyville High School. He was a member of 4-H where in 1929, he won a State Dairy Heifer Project Championship at the International Livestock Show in Chicago, Illinois. He had been previously selected as the Shelby County Champion, which resulted in his attendance at and winning of the state championship. As a result, all the various state champions from every division in 4-H from all over the United States then entered a writing contest for International Harvester Company of which Lester received the Honorable Mention award.
He was a World War II veteran in the Army Air Corp achieving the rank of Sergeant. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a city and rural mail carrier for 41 years, retiring in 1981. He also farmed East of Shelbyville. Lester was an active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Shelbyville where he was the Treasurer for 25 years. He was also a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Peoria, Illinois.
Surviving are two daughters, Judith (Darrell) Logan of Holland, Nebraska, and Jane (Stephen) Peterson of Dahinda, Illinois; four grandchildren, Scott Logan and wife Amy of Firth, Nebraska, Kimberly (Peterson) Hagan and husband Robert of Pompano Beach, Florida, Nikki (Logan) Knudsen and husband Jon of Roca, Nebraska and Marc Peterson and wife Starr of Chicago, Illinois; five great grandchildren, Joshua and Sarah Logan and Alexa, Tyler and Jayden Knudsen all of Nebraska. Lester was affectionately known as “Poppy” to all his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Frances Biehler of Shelbyville; and two sisters-in-law, Betty Jean Biehler of Shelbyville and Shirley Hick of Sun City West, Arizona.
Lester was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Franklin (twin brother of Frances), Clarence and Raymond, and sisters Selma, Inez and Ruby Biehler and Helen Richards.