Aug. 7, 1912 – Aug. 25, 2006
Melvin Lee Lester, 94, of Sweet Home died Aug. 25, 2006.
He was born in 1912 to Edward and Geraldine (Veer) Lester. In October of 1967 Mr. Lester married Velma Thacker in Reno, Nev.
After working in mills off and on since the seventh grade, Mr. Lester bought the Bojack Shingle Co. in Foster in October of 1947. In 1950 he wanted to expand so he began construction of the Lester Shingle Mill on 18th Street in Sweet Home. His company is now in its 55th year, with four generations working for the business.
He worked many years on the committee for the building Hwy 20. Melvin was with the BPOE for 55 years, as Head of the Bldg. Committee for the new lodge, trustee for many years and special Elk of the Year in 2001. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 50 years and member of the Shriners for 50 years as well, was the past president of the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce and Sweet Home Rotary; past member of the City Budget Committee for years, chair of City Planning Committee, and past vice president of Red Cedar Shingle.
Mr. Lester received the Sweet Home Distinguished Service Award in 1998 and the Sweet Home Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. He was the grand marshal of the Christmas Parade in 1997 and grand marshal of the Sportsman Holiday Parade.
Mr. Lester enjoyed fishing and hunting when he was younger. He enjoyed going to Reno and playing Keno.
He is survived by his son, Stanley Lester and wife Sharon; daughter, Melva Bell and husband Billie; special friends Bernice Waddle and Pat Stafford; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Viewing is 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Workman & Steckly Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the Elks Lodge in Sweet Home.
Contributions can be made to the Elks Eye Clinic or the East Linn Museum.
Workman & Steckly Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Tatjana Brett
March 26, 1971-Aug. 14, 2006
Tatjana Knoechel Brett, 35, of Racine, Wis., died Aug. 14, 2006 in an automobile accident in northeastern Illinois.
She was born in Ansbach, Germany on March 26, 1971 to Rudy and Marica (Grobijn) Knoechel. She married Ronald J. Brett, a longtime resident of Sweet Home, on Nov. 18, 1991 in Ansbach, Germany. She was employed by Racine Dental Group for over 10 years.
Mrs. Brett’s passion was being an artist. She was generous, strong and independent with a great sense of humor, but most of all she was a loving wife and mother.
Survivors include her husband, Ronald J. Brett; children, Georgina Viktoria Brett and Tristan John Brett of Racine; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gary and Betty Brett, Sr.; brother-in-law, Gary (Terin) Brett, Jr.; and sister-in-law, Mary Ann (Clyde) Young, all of Columbus, Ohio. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services were held Aug. 17, 2006.