Richard Martin Lester

Richard Martin Lester, 82, was born in Washington Township, IA on September 5, 1939 and passed away at MercyOne Johnston Hospice Care on April 2, 2022.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Ernst Funeral Home, Waukee. A funeral service will be held Friday, April 8, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines. A luncheon will immediately follow the service. Interment will begin at 1:30 PM at the Glendale Cemetery. Dick's funeral service will be live-streamed and can be viewed at service time via: https://hopeonline.tv/specialevents.

Richard (Dick) graduated from East High School in 1958. His high school yearbook ambition was “To be a success at whatever I may do and to make a certain girl proud of me.” He served in the Air National Guard. He worked for Westinghouse, ABB, and Willis and Hummel Nissan car dealerships. He enjoyed his time in the Polk County Reserves Sheriff’s Department and retired after 24 years of service, which included many years as the Chief. He received the Richard Rewaj Distinguished Reserve Officer of the Year Award in 1986. Dick was actively involved in the East High School Band Boosters from 1982 - 1986 and served as the Band Booster President from 1985-1986. He enjoyed working on cars and was well known as the neighborhood mechanic. He also loved Diet Coke, ice cream, the color red, and Wednesday dinners full of laughter with his friends. 

Richard is preceded in death by his wife Wilma Jean Lester (2018), his brother Jerry Lester (2019), his parents William Homer Lester (2007) and Fern Lester (2009).

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Linda of West Des Moines; daughters Rachon (Duane) Miller of Lake in the Hills, IL and Nicole (Joe) Lester-Ekis of Waukee; brother Roger (Sharon) Lester and sister Janet (Bob) Hayton; sister-in-law Louise Lester; brother-in-law Robert (Linda) Shoning; sisters-in-law Sue Cox and Vickie (Stas) Puchalski; and grandchildren Mackenzie, Clayton, Carson, and Emerson, as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the following: MercyOne Hospice Care or Rachon Miller, 421 Ridge Lane, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156 or Linda Lester 7220 Cody Dr., West Des Moines, IA 50266.

Ernst Funeral & Cremation Services of Waukee has been entrusted with Richard's final arrangements.