"Les" Oelschlager

Kenesaw resident, Lester "Les" William Oelschlager, 82, died

Thursday, October 18, 2007 at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital, Hastings, Nebraska.

Memorial service will be Wednesday, October 24, 2007, at 11:00 AM at the St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Kenesaw, Nebraska, with the Rev. Paul Duffy, officiating. Book signing will be Tuesday, October 23, 2007, from 6:00 PM to 8 PM with the family present at the Brand-Wilson Chapel, Hastings, Nebraska. Private family burial with military rites.

Lester was born, May 8, 1925 to William and Margurite (Frese) Oelschlager at the family farm, 3 miles west of Hansen, Nebraska. He was baptized at the Christ Lutheran Church, Prosser, Nebraska and confirmed at the same church on May 10, 1941. Les attended Adams County District 31 and Hastings High School, graduating in May of 1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and left for basic training shortly thereafter. He served during WWII through 1946 on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Antietam.

On August 23, 1946 he married LaVergne Fink at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hastings, Nebraska. He was employed by Sherman's International Harvester in Hastings, Nebraska, where he soon became service foreman. Les also worked for Diamond T Trucking. Throughout his career he developed expertise as a diesel engine mechanic. In 1966 he was hired as head of the Diesel Department at Central Nebraska Technical College in Hastings, Nebraska, retiring from that position in 1987.

His many interests included coaching little league baseball, gardening, hunting, and fishing with his son's and friends. He also enjoyed raising Galloway cattle, and did custom harvesting and haying.

Les was a member of the First St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hastings, Nebraska, where he served on the church council and in Stephen Ministry. He became a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kenesaw, Nebraska after moving to that community in 1996. Les was a member of the VFW and American Legion.

He is survived by his wife LaVergne, of Kenesaw, Nebraska, 2 sons, Dennis and wife Doris of South Bend, Nebraska and Steve and wife Barb of Columbus, Nebraska, 1 sister, Gladys Wicht of Grand Island, Nebraska, 4 Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the family's choice.