Funeral services for Lester Traxler will be held Saturday, January 7th at 11:00 at Rumsey Yost Funeral Home with visitation at 10:00.
Lester peacefully went to be with the Lord on December 23rd at his home with family by his side.
He was born August 18, 1930 to Ralph and Josephine (Shirck) Traxler in Lecompton. He graduated from Lecompton High School in 1948.
He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served until 1953 in Austria as a high speed radio operator. After returning from the Army he began working at FMC in Lawrence in 1954 and retired in 1991.
He married Catherine Emery on March 13, 1960. She preceded him in death on the same date, December 23, 1990.
Watching sports was a favorite activity rarely missing a KU Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals game. Raising cattle was also an important part of his life. Right up until the end he was still concerned that the cows would be taken care of everyday.
He was a longtime member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Topeka.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Catherine and brothers John Traxler and Louis Traxler and sister Elizabeth Norris.
Survivors include daughter JoAnna of Lecompton, son Dale (Diana) of Hoyt, 3 grandchildren, Aaron (Megan) of Kansas City, Mo, Nathan (Sarah Burkhart) of Scottsdale, AZ and Catherine of Fort Collins, Co and great-granddaugher Emmaline and several nieces and nephews.
During his health problems of the last month his nurses always commented about his great smile and how much they enjoyed that even though he wasn’t feeling well. That smile will certainly be missed.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Prairie Wind Hospice, P.O. Box 641, Baldwin City, KS, 66006.
