Lester Larry Schmidt Jr., 75, of Wells died Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, at his home.  Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be private.

Lester was born at home, April 9, 1939, the son of Lester and Velma (Strehlow) Schmidt in Dexter Township, Mower County. His family later relocated to what became the family farm by Minnesota Lake. Lester and his siblings attended a country school until eighth grade, at which time he began working with his father on the farm. He also worked for his stepbrother and several farmers in the area.

In 1957, Lester met his best friend, JoAnn Krueger, and in 1959 they were united in marriage. To this union, one daughter was born. Thus a new little family was formed and they settled down just outside of Alden and began their life.

Lester worked several jobs and he and JoAnn continued to lend a hand to help his dad and stepfather on their farms as time would allow. Lester knew he liked working outdoors best, so he relocated his little family to Mapleton to work for Krengel Tiling.

Lester had a fascination with trains and later moved to Wells and went to work for the railroad, holding several positions until his disability in the early ’80s. By this time Lester and JoAnn decided to move to the family farm by Minnesota Lake to care for Lester Sr. and dabble in hobby farming. Lester loved having horses, cows, chickens, dogs and several other animals, mostly as pets. In 2006 they moved to Wells to be closer to family. Lester enjoyed visiting with people. He was a very generous and very giving man.

Lester is survived by his daughter, Cindy (LaMar) Brandenburg, of Wells; brother, Gordon (Jeannine) Schmidt; grandchildren Jennifer (Rod) Bramstedt of Wells and Jessica (Kip) Raimann of New Richland; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three step-grandchildren, Jackie (Todd) Wetzel, Sheila (Scott) Waskowsky and Richard (Cassie) Brandenburg; four step-great-grandchildren; one step-great-great-grandchild; and sister-in-law, Donna (Darwin) Evenson, of Pinconning, Mich.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, JoAnn; stepfather; one sister; two brothers; mother and father-in-law; and sister-in-law.