Lester G. Peshak

Lester G. Peshak, 91, of Plymouth, IA, died Monday, April 7, 2014, at the Manly Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, April 11, 2014, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue – Mason City, with Rev. Jerry Avise-Rouse and Rev. Wendy Johannesen of the Plymouth United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be at the Plymouth Bohemian Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Thursday (April 10, 2014) at Major Erickson Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army, 747 Village Green Drive, Mason City, IA 50401. Lester was born March 2, 1923, in Plymouth, the son of Orrin and Bessie May (Harman) Peshak. Following graduation from Plymouth High School in 1941, Lester enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Signal Corps in the China, Burma, India Theatre as a cryptographer from 1943 – 1946. He was also a liaison with the Chinese Army. On October 5, 1952, Lester was united in marriage to Dotta F. Kempthorne at the Morgan Center Church near Dows. Lester worked with his father as a carpenter and painter for many years. He also worked at the West View Apartments in Mason City for 25 years, retiring in 1999. Lester enjoyed woodworking and refinishing furniture in his shop. Dotta and Lester had many furniture refinishing and caning customers around the area and across the country. He also enjoyed having family, friends & neighbors over for a cup of coffee, and watching old Westerns, such as Bonanza. Lester was a member of the Plymouth United Methodist Church. Lester is survived by his children: LeAnn Steiff and husband Glenn of Northwood, IA, Richard Peshak and wife Deb of Plymouth, Doug Peshak and wife Mary of Plymouth, Tom Peshak of Dumont, IA, and Patty Carpenter of Manly, IA; six grandsons: Eric Peshak of Waukesha, WI, Scott Peshak and wife Brenda of West Des Moines, IA, Jeffrey Steiff and fiancée Sarah James of Des Moines, Robert Peshak and wife Leah of Rochester, MN, James Peshak of Plymouth, and Michael Steiff and wife Nicole of Waterloo, Ontario; one great grandson: Jacoby Peshak of Waukesha; and one sister: Marylou Winter of Mason City. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 2013; two brothers-in-law: Gerald Winter and Charles Kempthorne; three sisters-in-law: Clara King, Yvonne Schwieger and Marguerite Welzien; and a son-in-law: Tracy Carpenter. Lunch will be served at the Plymouth United Methodist Church, 508 Carter St, Plymouth, IA, following the committal service.

Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army, 747 Village Green Drive, Mason City, IA 50401.