Lester Leroy Albrecht

Memories of Uncle Lester by Jeanette GravesLester Leroy Albrecht, age 88, of Elizabeth, Illinois, died Sunday, March 16, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque, Iowa. Lester was born August 9, 1919, at 9055 S. Mueller Road, to Jacob Henry Albrecht and Emma (Reusch) Albrecht. He has resided on the family farm for eighty-eight and one-half years. Lester slept in an upstairs bedroom looking toward an out building for eighty-five years. When Lester was two years old, he fell into the hog slop barrel, looking out the dining room window his mother saw those little hands hanging on for dear life. At nine years old, Lester received a B-B gun and shot through the kitchen window, just missing brother Glen and Grandma Reusch. It has been said that Grandma did not visit the farm as often after this incident.Lester attended all eight years at Kellar Country School. Lester was a life long member of St. John Lutheran Church, Massbach, Illinois. He was baptized in 1919 and confirmed in 1933. Lester was the Sunday School Superintendent for many years.There was a baseball diamond on the family farm for many years, baseball teams came from Schapville, Elizabeth and surrounding areas to play. Local folk would park their cars on the hillside and watch the games. Grandpa Albrecht served as an umpire.Lester never traveled very much as he was a caretaker for his Mother and Dad. He had many friends in the Massbach area; he enjoyed chatting with everyone. Lester truly never met a stranger, he loved all people. Bert Mercer walked to the farm everyday and carried his mail to him. She watered and fed the sheep. Our family said how wonderful she was and we could not be without her help. When Grandma and Grandpa were living and our families would go to their home for Sunday dinner, Uncle Lester would take us for rides in his Studebaker and motorcycle. I remember him speeding along. Lester recently had his big barn shingled, painted and repaired. He had a new garage built for his new John Deere Gator. He was very proud of the remodeling.Lester recently had surgery at the Dubuque Mercy Hospital and Pastor Steve Anderson visited him there. He enjoyed his visit.Lester never smoked cigarettes or drank liquor. Everyday he read the Bible and prayed for one hour before getting out of bed. He set a good example for family members. He attended the Elizabeth fair parade for seventy-seven years. He and his dad walked livestock through the parade in early years. He went to Beyer's store in Massbach to play pool. The store was a meeting place for parents and kids.On December 7, 1941, he and his family attended a dinner at Uncle John and Aunt Lizzie Reusch of Guildford, Illinois. They told them the shocking news of Pearl Harbor. Lester always remembered Guilford Store and all varieties of chocolate candy. Lester bowled on a bowling team in Savanna. The Albrecht's Homesteaded in 1940 in the Massbach area. Lester is the last of Albrecht's in the valley. He was born when Woodrow Wilson was President 1913 –1921, our 16th President. He never missed voting at Pleasant Valley Township Hall. He enjoyed Sonja’s grand children at Holiday time. Uncle Lester enjoyed his farm. His health had not been the best for several years but he did not want to leave the farm. It was home to him. He will be dearly missed by relatives and friends.Lester is survived by brother Glen Emery and his wife Viola (Knutti) Albrecht of Ebys Mill Road; nieces and nephews, Velda, Jeanette, Stanley, Mary Ellen, Susan, Sonja, Mark, Kathleen, Bruce, Dennis, Carol and Barbara, and many great nieces and nephews.Lester was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Arthur Henry Albrecht and his wife, Pauline (Knauer) and Helmer Sherman and Mrytle (Bahr) Albrecht.