Lester W. Schrum

Lester W. Schrum, age 97, of Denison, formerly of Manilla, died October 18, 2017  at Eventide Nursing Home in Denison.

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla, where visitation will be begin at 9:00 AM. Interment will follow in Nishnabotna Cemetery near Manilla.

Lester Wayne, son of Gustav and Elsie (Wegner) Schrum was born September 14, 1920, in Hayes Township, Crawford County, Iowa. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith on August 29, 1926, in Egan, South Dakota and was confirmed on December 20, 1936, at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Lester attended country school in Iowa Township, the ninth grade in Aspinwall and the tenth grade in Manning.
In October of 1942, Lester enlisted with the U.S. Navy and served in the Bermuda Islands on an aircraft carrier and in Norfolk, Virginia, having the opportunity to attend Tank Mechanic School in Chicago. He was honorably discharged on December 25, 1945.

On his 30th birthday, on September 14, 1950, Lester was united in marriage with Estella Mae Thomssen by Rev. J.M. Ansorge. In 2010, they celebrated 60 years of marriage.  The couple resided in Manilla, Iowa all their married life, and attended Trinity Lutheran Church.  This union was blessed with one child, Debra.  Debra married Gary Keesling, whom Lester and Estella treated as their own son.

Lester had many occupations; he worked in egg plants in Manning and Manilla, was a farmhand, and finally retired after 25 years as a Road Maintenance Operator with Crawford County.

Lester and Estella enjoyed working in their garden and maintaining their yard. He cherished the memories of trips to the Sidney Rodeo, going to South Dakota and car shows where Gary showed his truck. Later in life, he enjoyed car rides, breakfast at the Family Table, family breakfast at Cronk’s Buffet on Sunday, and most of all, any family get-togethers.

He was proud to have lived in the same home in Manilla for 67 years. On September 26, 2017, he became a resident of Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa. He went to be with Estella and his Lord on October 18, 2017.  He was 97 years of age.

Lester was preceded in death by his wife Estella in 2011; father Gus in 1987; mother Elsie in 1966; three brothers: Arlo, Louis and Harvey Schrum; sister LaDonna Wiese; brothers-in-law: Merly Schnoor, Alvin Wiese, Henry Thomssen and Merle Thomssen; sisters-in-law: Aloha Schrum, Verna Jorgensen and Florence Thomssen.

Lester is survived by his daughter Debra and husband Gary Keesling of Denison; two granddaughters Kari and husband Brian Miller of Carroll and Niki Kahl of Denison; five great grandchildren: JT Miller of Granger; Kennady Miller of Ames; Harrison, Morgan and Colby Kahl of Denison; and special nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Funeral Service
Saturday, October 21, 2017, 10:00 AM
Trinity Lutheran Church
Manilla, Iowa

Officiating
Reverend Robert Riggert

Congregational Hymns
“Amazing Grace”
“I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
Carlys Stribe, Organist

Prerecorded Music
“On Eagle’s Wings” by Angela Birkhead-Flight

Casket Bearers
JT Miller      Harrison Kahl
Harold Jurgensen      Gerald Jurgensen
Jeff Muhlbauer     Jerome Riesselman

Honorary Casket Bearers
Kennady Miller Morgan Kahl Colby Kahl

Interment with Military Honors
American Legion Post 132 VFW Post 3517
U.S. Navy Honor Guard
Nishnabotna Cemetery
Manilla, Iowa