Lester Quandt, 78, of Bonduel, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, after a courageous, nine-year battle with liver cancer. Throughout his battle, he never gave up. “When you’re hurting you need to keep trying.” He gave 110 percent, just like he always said.
Lester was born in the town of Hartland on Aug. 16, 1937, to the late Willie and Leona (Boettcher) Quandt. He was baptized on Sept. 5, 1937, and confirmed in his faith in May 1948. He was a 1956 graduate of Bonduel High School. On June 8, 1963, Lester was united in marriage to Sandra Adeline Gruetzmacher at Zion Lutheran Church in Readfield. Lester was a lifetime member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Angelica where he served as custodian for many years. He also worked at Graf’s Creamery for 49 years and drove truck for J.W. Enterprises, all while farming the family farm which he did until the very last year of his life. Lester enjoyed making maple syrup, making firewood, sucker fishing, and driving truck, which included all the people he met while trucking. He also enjoyed bowling, attending Timber Rattlers games, eating out, listening to polka music, and polka dancing. He truly loved to watch the grandchildren play in the band and play sports. He was always there to help a family member out, even when he was taking chemo and it was obvious he wasn’t feeling well. He just pushed on, a true role model for his family. He enjoyed the trips he took to the Badlands, Corn Palace, Branson, Mount Rushmore, the Leinenkugel Brewery, and any trip that took him to see one of his grandchildren.
Lester cherished all the wonderful memories and gifts that family, friends, and neighbors gave him, especially the visits. The last year was a roller coaster of emotions for the whole family, and the gift appreciated most of all were all the prayers. Lester spoke often of how wonderful his wife was for taking care of him, and with the assistance of hospice, he was able to stay home and did not have to go into a nursing home.
Lester is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sandra; three children, Annette (Clark) Commons, Jeanette (Mark) Wagester and Brian Quandt, all of Bonduel; his grandchildren, Amanda (Cameron) Cunningham, of Green Bay, Nikki (Chris) Goeben, of Waupaca, Brandon, Kayla Ann and Joseph Wagester, and Haley and Kylie Quandt, of Bonduel; a great-granddaughter, Emma Cunningham; two brothers, Adolph Quandt, of Shawano, and Eddie (Kathy) Quandt, of Green Bay; a sister, Vanitta Brusewitz, of Bonduel; brothers-in-law, Gustave Drage, Dan (Sue) Gruetzmacher and David Gruetzmacher; sisters-in-law, LaVerne Sommers, Ruth Pankow, Carol Jane (Fred) Huebner, and Delores (Paul) Westphal; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by a son, Leslie; his parents; sisters, Cecila Drage and Dora Wauters; a sister-in-law, Viola Quandt; brothers-in-law, Charlie Wauters, Maynard Brusewitz, Harold Gruetzmacher, Eldor (Mary) Gruetzmacher, Aaron Pankow, Arthur Sommers, and David Young; as well as a nephew, Jerry Gruetzmacher.
A funeral service for Lester will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Zachow with the Rev. Virgil Hanson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Swedberg-Wendt Funeral Home in Bonduel on Friday from 4-8 p.m. and again at the church on Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Swedberg-Wendt Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Lester’s family would like to extend a thank you to Unity Hospice for all they did for Lester and his family.