1928 – Lester Charles Schoolmeester – 2017
Lester Charles Schoolmeester was born on July 4, 1928 to Charles and Mae (Kleinjan) in Pipestone County. He was baptized in the First Reformed Church of Edgerton, Minnesota. He graduated from Edgerton High School. After graduating he worked at the creamery and for a local plumber. Les joined the Army for two years and was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. He was discharged in March of 1953. On June 9, 1953 he married Wilma DeVries in Edgerton. They moved to a farm outside of Chandler, Minnesota, where they lived for 55 years, until October of 2008 when they moved into Chandler where he lived until he moved to assisted living in Edgerton. While living on the farm they were members of the Chandler Christian Reformed Church. He served as a Deacon, Elder and on the Chandler Christian Grade School board. When not working on the farm he enjoyed fishing and going south in the winter. The day before his wife’s birthday, on Thursday, April 27, 2017, Les left his earthly home to live with his Heavenly Father, at the age of 88 years.
Les is lovingly remembered by three daughters: LuAnn (Arwin) Spronk, Edgerton, MN, Darla (Fred) Koelewyn, Plano, TX, Lorna (Jeff) Hulstein, Chandler, MN; two sons,: 23 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Lee (Jean) DeVries, Middleville, MI; four sisters-in-law: Alvina Schoolmeester, Edgerton, MN, Loreen DeVries, Chino, CA, Helen DeStigter, LeMars, IA, Linda (Jack) Northouse, Freeport, MI and Donna (Ted) Weerstra, Holland, MI; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parentsCharles and Mae; wife Wilma; daughter Karen; step-mother Vena; parents-in-law Evert and Martha DeVries; brother Orvin; and brother-in-laws: Albertus DeVries and Jerry DeStigter.
A celebration of his life was held on Monday, May 1, 2017 at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church, Chandler, MN at 10:30 a.m. with burial following at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery. Chandler Funeral Association is in charge of services.
