Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Lester 'PeeWee' Neumann

WATERSMEET, Mich. — Lester “PeeWee” Neumann, of Watersmeet, passed away Friday, March 22, 2013, at the age of 92.

He was born on Sept. 3, 1920, at home in Athens, Wis., to Anton and Thekla (Klein) Neumann.

PeeWee married Lorna Scheu, of the town of Corning, Wis., on Sept. 27, 1941.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the USS PCE 870 in the Pacific. He was a member of the American Legion Post 417 of Watersmeet for 53 years and was post commander from 1965 to 1969.

Following the war, PeeWee and Lorna worked for Natzki and Scheu Logging, first in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, then finally in the Watersmeet area. He continued logging with Sorenson Brothers and then moved to Bergland to operate several dams on the Ontonagon River system for the Upper Peninsula Power Company.

PeeWee loved the woods. His favorite hobbies were trout fishing, trapping, deer hunting, cutting firewood, reading and gardening. He continued to cut wood and use the wood for heat until recently. He was on his bulldozer skidding trees even last summer. His garage was his playhouse. He loved to fix and tinker with things. Springtime meant maple syrup making.

Lester is survived by his wife of 71 years, Lorna; sister, Mamie Hardt, Athens; son, David, Watersmeet; daughters, Diana (Ed) Sparks, Watersmeet, and Donna (Charlie) Wilber, Ontonagon; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Elmer and Harold; and one grandchild.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 30, at 1 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church in Land O’Lakes, Wis., with the Rev. Gary Albert officiating.

Visitation will be one hour before the service and lunch will follow.

The family wishes to express many thanks to Regional Hospice Services and the Eagle River Memorial Hospital for their kind care and help.

Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home of Eagle River, Wis., is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at gaffney-busha.com.

 
 
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