William F. “Bill” Lesmeister passed away on Monday, June 4, 2018 at the age of 89. Bill died in his home; living independently right up until the end.
Bill was formerly married to Shirley Kling Basiliere. He spent many loving years dancing with his longtime girlfriend, Sharon Rabine.
Bill was born on September 24, 1928 in Halliday, North Dakota to Stephen and Marie Eva (Gerhardt) Lesmeister. Bill was one of nine children.
When Bill was in 11th grade, his father passed away and he stayed home to help raise his brothers and sisters. Mr. Lesmeister was an honest, hard-working man. He worked at his father’s gas station and moved homes in North Dakota.
In 1955 he moved to Rochester . He worked moving homes with his brothers and selling fire trucks and fire equipment. He was general manager of GMC Truck Service Company while single-handedly raising his three children on Golden Hill in Rochester. In 1970 he opened his own business, Lesmeister Truck Center located at 4120 South Broadway in Rochester. He worked there with his sons, daughter and grandsons until he retired at the age of 85 in 2013. He was heavily involved in Cub and Boy Scouts through St. Francis Catholic Church in Rochester. He was past president of the MN Diabetes Association of MN and president of the local chapter. He started the Rochester Diabetes Bike-A-Thon which has raised over $300,000 for diabetes research. Bill was actively involved in the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and both St. Francis and Resurrection Catholic Churches.
He is preceded in death by his siblings: Tony, Marcel, Leo, Harry and Fred.
Bill leaves behind his sons Mike and Tim both of Rochester and daughter Teresa (Kevin) Doran of Mendota Heights, MN. He loved babies and was very proud of his grandsons; Jesse, Jason, Mike and Jake, granddaughters; Emma and Eva, five great grandchildren; Jackson, Jace, Grace, Amelia and Evelyn and his sisters Katherine, Irene and Bernice.
Mr. Lesmeister cared deeply for his family and his community. He was also an avid lover of flowers and animals.
Papa will be greatly missed by all of us.
The Funeral Mass for Bill will be held at 10:30AM on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at Resurrection Catholic Church in Rochester with Father Peter Schuster officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00pm until 8:00pm on Friday evening, June 8, 2018 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the Mass at the church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery of Rochester.
Memorials are preferred to Paws and Claws of Rochester.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com
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