SANFORD LESTER Age 95, passed away on Friday, October 21, 2011 at Vista Care Hospice at Lovelace Hospital in Albuquerque, NM. He was a member of San Clemente Parish in Los Lunas. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Grace; his parents, Anna and Gerhard; his brother Arthur; and sisters, Gladys McIntyre and Margaret Forde. Les is survived by his daughter, Helen Kerscher of Los Lunas; grandson Thomas Lester Kerscher (Sara); great-granddaughters Kayla, Julia, and Alyssa of Yorba Linda, CA; half-brother Kent Forde (Pam) of De Soto, MO; half-sisters Marti (Neil) Ricklefs of Estes Park, CO and Barb Forde of Des Moines, IA; and nieces Kelli Forde and Chelsea Adams; nephews David Hoopman, Adam and John Ricklefs. He also leaves his favorite therapy cat, Baby, and longtime caregiver, Gloria Nevarez of Los Lunas. Les graduated from Luther College in Decorah, IA in 1939 where he excelled in sports and was inducted into the Luther College Sports Hall of Fame. His record on the football field and the baseball diamond were memorialized by the college. After graduation, he taught history and coached football in Minnesota. In 1941, Les entered the Army Air Corps, finished cadet training at Kirtland Air Force Base during WWII and became a navigator-bombardier instructor as a 2nd Lieutenant. He instructed the use of the once top-secret Norden bombsight while stationed in New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. During his Army Air Corps career, Les flew training missions with actor Jimmy Stewart and had many tales to tell. After the war, Les worked for 35 years in the labor relations department of Giddings and Lewis Machine Tool Company in Wisconsin. Upon retirement, he moved to California, where he joined his daughter, son-in-law and grandson to become the "branch" manager at their general store and resort in the Sierra Nevada town of Strawberry, CA. There, he enjoyed fishing in the Stanislaus River and several local lakes. Les also spent many a day playing golf, logging 3 separate holes-in-one as a scratch golfer. He continued to shoot at or below his age, well into his 80's. Les and family moved to New Mexico in 1996, where he lived in Rio Communities and later moved to Los Lunas with his daughter. Les had a love for animals that always became a spirited topic of discussion. Over the years, he adopted many strays, who faithfully made him their master. This love of animals and love of life was apparent in everything he did. A Rosary and Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5th at 10:30 am at San Clemente Catholic Church in Los Lunas. A reception will follow in the parish hall. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Valencia Animal Shelter or Animal Humane of New Mexico may be made on his behalf. Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at Noblin Funeral Service Los Lunas Chapel, 2211-D Main Street, (505) 866-9992, where an online guest register is available at: www.noblinfuneralservice.com
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