Lester Adelbert Vohs

Lester A. Vohs, age 95, of Storm Lake, formerly of Galva passed away on Sunday, March 06, 2022 at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community of Storm Lake. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 10:00 AM at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein with the Pastor Bob Lewis officiating. Burial wIll be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein with military rites conducted by the American Legion Dibbern Post #454 of Galva. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.

Lester A. Vohs was born August 30, 1926 in a farm house in Cherokee County, Iowa to Alma and George Vohs.  He was baptized in the Lutheran faith in a farm house near Galva, Iowa on September 26, 1926 and confirmed at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Holstein in 1941. He attended country schools in Cherokee and Ida County and graduated from Holstein High School in 1945. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Marines and took basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. He was transferred to Portsmouth, New Hampshire as an Armed Guard at the military prison. He was then stationed in Oahu, Hawaii, and served in the Headquarters of the Fleet Marine Force of the Pacific. He received many awards, one of them being the sharp-shooter award and was discharged in November, 1947.  After he was discharged he came home to begin farming with his father.

Lester was united in marriage to Colleen Thompson on April 20, 1952 at Soldier Lutheran Church in Soldier, Iowa.  They made their home on the family farm where Les was raised. To this union, four children were born and raised while farming the land and raising, cattle, hogs and chickens. Lester had a very strong work ethic believing there was always a job that needed to be done if you just looked around, and he successfully passed this down to his children. Lester enjoyed many years of farming until his retirement in 1991.

Les had a very deep faith and was active in his church, St. Paul Lutheran of Holstein, holding several positions on the Church Council. He accompanied the Lutheran youth group, along with his grandson, Chad on a mission trip to Prague, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland. He also traveled to Russia twice, the first time out of curiosity and a few years later to volunteer in an orphanage. A trip to the Holy Land and Egypt was a special highlight for Lester in his many travels. He was also able to travel to Germany three different times to visit relatives. His last visit to Germany was in 2011 when he enjoyed a three-generation family vacation with his son-in-law, Randy and grandson, Jacob who was studying abroad at the time.

Lester was involved with the American Legion Dibbern Post #454 in Galva, the Buena Vista County Historical Society, Hy-Noon Kiwanis Club, a member of the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Foundation Board and the Ida County REC Board, and was a Soil Commissioner. He was very mindful of soil conservation and taking care of the land.

Lester and Colleen were in a 500-card club that began in 1952. Many close and special friendships came out of that group that stayed together for over 50 years. Les and Colleen moved to Storm Lake in 1997. Lester had always had an interest in cars and became quite a collector. His favorites were American Motors, particularly the Nash vehicles. He and Colleen were members of the SERPACI Car Club and the Nash Car Club of America traveling to every state except Alaska. They enjoyed the many lifelong friendships they made through their car clubs.

Those left to cherish their memories with Lester are his four children, Jeffrey (Loraine) Vohs of Holstein, Julie (Ken) Hansen of Milford, Lisa (Randy) Tjaden of Titonka, and Joel (Wendy) Vohs of Galva; Lester’s nine grandchildren, Chad (Amy) Vohs, Tyler (Whitney) Vohs, Michelle (Troy) Jacobson, Jamie (Sheldon) Nalos, Brian (Becca) Hansen, Kristin (Jonathan) Dennis, Stephen (Kalya) Tjaden, David (Caitlin) Tjaden, Jacob Tjaden, Jaycie Vohs, Cadey Vohs & Tiegan Vohs and 22 great-grandchildren.

Lester was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Colleen; his parents, George and Alma Vohs; and special friend, Vivian Anderson.