Person:Walter Lestina (1)

From the March 20, 1996, edition of the Postville (IA) Herald-Leader

Walter Lestina

Walter Joseph Lestina, son of Frank E. and Martha W. (Schroder) Lestina, was born July 28, 1904, in rural Clayton County, Giard Township, McGregor, Iowa. He died March 10, 1996 at Ossian Senior Hospice, Ossian, Military Township, Winnesheik County, Iowa. He was 91 years old.

Walter was baptized in Monona, Iowa, and was confirmed by the late Rev. Albert Daugs in the Lutheran faith on April 6, 1919, in the Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's Church in Monona, Iowa.

He obtained his education at a country school for six years at Beulah, Iowa, and the 7th and 8th grades in Milwaukee, Wis. His family moved there at that time only to return to the family farm after World War I in 1919. Walter then began working on the Milwaukee Railroad and continued working for the railroad for 43 years. Many of these years he was track foreman. He retired from the railroad in 1962.

On August 23, 1927, he was united in marriage to Arelene Agynetta Montgomery at Monona by the Rev. Daugs. They established their home in the Monona area; moved to Bassett, Iowa; and finally to Ossian in February of 1939. As a young boy in Milwaukee, Walter was introduced to music and woodworking. He continued on with the music, learning to play the violin, write music, teach others to read music and play instruments, and later joined his two sisters in forming "Lestina's Serenaders," a dance band. He also played the piano accordion. Woodworking interests was also a hobby for him. He was a 57 year member of Ossian Lutheran Church and served as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent. He was Ossian clubmaster from 1959 to 1970. He received the Silver Beaver award in 1969 for his many accomplishments as a neighborhood Scout commissioner and service to the scouting organization. Walter's interests also included gardening, training a pet cat or dog, television and CB radio where his handle was "Ground Cherry." He moved to the Ossian Hospice on January 20, 1987.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife Arelene on May 27, 1975; a nephew, Ronald Blumhagen and a niece, Joanne (Blumhagen) Suckow. Survivors include his two sisters, Hazel Blumhagen and Alice Kottman, both of Postville; two nephews, Harland Kottman and his wife LaVon, Gary Kottman and his wife Sharon; a niece, Joanita (Blumhagen) and her husband, Dan Schweikert, all of Monona, and several great-nephews and great-nieces. The Schmitz Funeral Home of Ossian was in charge of arrangements. Interment was at the Monona City Cemetery, Monona, Iowa.