Lester L. Althauser

Lester L. Althauser, Jr., 77, of Crestline died Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. He has been in failing health since 2006.

Lester was born July 16, 1935 in Bucyrus to the late Lester L and Dorothy (Shank) Althauser. He attended school at Bucyrus and while in school, worked at Walther Hardware and BP before taking a position at Timken as a machine operator. This is where he met Roberta L. Hetrick and on April 17, 1964 they were married. Jr. retired in 1990 and shortly thereafter, took a security position for a number of years working in the Timken guard shack until his wife retired.

Jr. was known as an "excessive compulsive workaholic" and a perfectionist. He took meticulous care of his cars, mowers and especially his 1977 GMC Pick Up which he loved tinkering with and taking to car shows. Earlier in his life, Jr. showed Quarter Horses around parts of Ohio and he and Roberta went on many snow skiing trips to northern Michigan and New York. More recently he cherished time with his special niece and two nephews where his main job was to make sure the bikes were ready to roll. He has been a lifelong fisherman and he enjoyed watching NASCAR; always cheering for Dale Sr. when he was alive. Neighbors knew him as the energizer bunny because he was always accomplishing tasks, even if Roberta asked him not to do because of safety concerns. He loved being productive, attending Church at Wayside Chapel when healthy and he always treated people right.

In addition to Roberta, his wife of 49 years, Les is survived by three children, Renae Jones of Bucyrus, Deborah Sue (Mike) Burmen of Indiana and Todd Althauser of rural Bucyrus; one step-daughter, Beth Mueller of Tonasket, Wash.; five grandchildren, Deric Lauthers, Emily Coppler both of Bucyrus, Chad Burmen of Toledo and Catie Burmen of Indiana; two step-grandchildren, Lavonne Soddard and Ronny Hopkins and seven great grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Harold (Annie) Stinehelfer of Bucyrus a sister, Margaret Groves; a sister-in-law, Marylin (Tom) Blankenship of Tiro and numerous nieces and nephews, three who were especially close with him, Josh, Kaleb and Mikayla Blankenship.

Jr. is preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter, Kellee Shambaugh and a nephew, Brian Stinehelfer.

His family will receive friends from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1 at Wise Funeral Service where his funeral will begin that day at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Timothy Compton officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Contributions may be given to Wayside Christian School through the funeral home.



Visitation:

Saturday, June 1, 2013 10 a.m. until 1p.m.

Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Service:

Saturday, June 1, 2013 1:00 p.m.

Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Cemetery:

Oakwood Cemetery, 835 Kaler Ave., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820