March 18, 1919 – Jan. 30, 2011

Lester L. "Les" Schoenike of Waukesha passed away Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, lovingly surrounded by his family at LindenGrove Health Care Center – Waukesha at the age of 91. He was born March 18, 1919, in Birnamwood, the son of Carl and Alma (Lemke) Schoenike.

Lester proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corp. from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. He served in Europe and North Africa and received two oak leaf clusters and 12 battle stars. He served in the 4th Fighter Squadron and the 52nd Fighter Group. Lester was an active member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and sang in the choir for more than 50 years. He retired as a foreman of the fly wheel department of Waukesha Engine in 1983 after 37 years.

Lester will be sadly missed by his wife of 64 years, Adeline; his children, Gary (Lory Jannes) Schoenike of Milwaukee, Vicki Walker of Waukesha, Marcia (Roger) Seefeldt of Waukesha and Leslie (Chris) Betthauser of Waukesha; his grandchildren, Lara, Karl, Alan, Brody, Sarah, Heather, Brooke, Holly, Benjamin, Leah, Kayla and Hannah; great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Chloe, Bailey, Lily, Olivia, Gatlin, Brennan, Lydia, Anona and Christian; and other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Merna Silsby.

Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until the 12:30 p.m. funeral service Friday, Feb. 4, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1052 Whiterock Ave., Waukesha. The Rev. Larry Gates will be officiating. Burial with full military honors will immediately follow at Prairie Home Cemetery, Waukesha.

Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, Cremation and Pre-Planning Services is serving the family. For the online obituary or to leave a condolence, please visit www.WaukeshasFuneralHome.com, or call 542-6609.