----Source: Greenwood Library Scrapbook Collection

MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD 10/ /1974

JOHN R. LESAR

Greenwood--A Concelebrated Mass will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Family Catholic Church here for John Robert Lesar, 72, who served as postmaster in the community of Willard, Clark County for 29 years. Mr. Lesar died at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27, 1974 at his home in Willard.

The Rev. Michael G. Martens, pastor, will be assisted at the altar by the Rev. Augustine Svete, O.S.M., a former pastor, and the Rev. Geno Korbic, O.S.M. Interment will be made in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call at the Hill Funeral Home, Greenwood, until 7 p.m. tonight (Monday) and then at the church.

A resident of Willard for 45 years, Mr. Lesar was born Nov. 19, 1901, in Ely, Minn., and received his education in the local schools. He worked in the iron mines at Ely for a short period of time and also for Western Electric in Chicago before coming to Willard.

Mr. Lesar took over as postmaster in Willard in 1942 and completed 29 years of service, retiring on Dec. 31, 1971, at 70 years of age. He also received credit for an additional year of service for more than 2,500 hours of unused sick leave. Prior to that appointment he had farmed for 10 years in the Gorman area.

He was an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church and served as officer of its Holy Name Society for a number of years. He served as town treasurer and town supervisor and also as president of the K.S.K.J. Lodge. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Lady of Fatima Council.

His marriage on June 29, 1923, at Holy Family Catholic Church was to the former Mary L. Koschak, who survives him.

Other Survivors include two sons, Donald, Milwaukee, and Bernard, England two daughters, Mrs. Fred (Adeline) Krembs, Huntsville, Ala., and Miss Roberta Lesar, Appleton a brother, Louis, Ely, Minn. four sisters, Misses Mary, Frances, Anna and Agnes Lesar, all of Willard, and nine grandchildren.

Three brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.

Active pallbearers for the Tuesday service will be Allen Lamovec, Louis Lesar Jr., John F. Trunkel Jahn Francel, Frank Pekol and Anthony Prebel. Honorary pallbearers will be the Clark County Postmasters and members of the Knights of Columbus, Lady of Fatima Council.