TOLEDO-Lester Ernest Dostal, age 91, of rural Toledo, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 26, 2008 at his home north of Toledo following a brief illness. A Funeral Liturgy will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 10:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with Father Michael Mescher officiating. Interment will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be held Friday, May 30, 2008 from 5-7:30 PM at the Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with a Vigil Service at 7:30 PM.
Lester was born on April 18, 1917, in Tama County, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Anna (Vtipil) Dostal.
Lester attended rural school and graduated from Toledo High School in 1935, he went on to receive his certificate for teaching from the Iowa State Normal College in Cedar Falls, Iowa and taught in the Tama County rural schools for several years.
On September 14, 1940, he was united in marriage to Mary Margaret Hudnut at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Cedar Falls. The couple farmed north of Toledo for over sixty-five years. Lester served as a Howard Township trustee for many years. In addition to farming, he worked at ASCS for thirty years and also served for many years as a storm watcher. He was a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary on March 21, 2005; one sister, Helen Novak; and one brother, Ralph Dostal.
Survivors include five daughters; Bonita (Greg) Neff of Munster, IN, Mary Ann (Thomas) Gray of Bemidji, MN, Marilyn (Michael) Kelley of Edina, MN, Regina (Charles) Lebeda of Humboldt, SD, and Rita Dostal of Toledo; seven grandchildren, Stacia Gray, Corinne (Grady) Hamilton, Scott Gray, Tim Kelley, Dr. Kristiana Neff, Katie Lebeda, and Chrissy Lebeda; two great-grandchildren, Mae and Mack Hamilton; one brother, Harry (Mildred) Dostal of Marshalltown; two brothers-in-law, Donald (Betty) Hudnutt of Grinnell and Ellsworth (Mary Ann) Hudnutt of Grinnell; and a sister-in-law, Iona Hudnutt of Grinnell.
A memorial fund has been established.