Lester A. Raymer Jr.

Lester Albert Raymer Jr., 79, of Gladwin, Michigan, formerly of Macomb Township and Kalamazoo, passed away on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Mid Michigan Medical Center in Midland, Michigan following a long and courageous battle with Chronic Lymphoma Leukemia, surrounded by his loving wife, Wanda and family. He was born on March 28, 1939 to Lester Sr. and Jasprina (Pauline) Raymer in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He left school to enlist in the United States Army and shortly after his discharge met his future wife, Wanda Marie Anderson of Vicksburg, Michigan. After a 3 month courtship, they were married on June 26, 1959 and shared 59 years together. They were blessed with a daughter, Carrie Marie. Lester was a Sales Representative for Jay’s introducing their potato chips and other products into towns from St. Joseph to Kalamazoo area of Michigan in the early 1960’s. He returned to the Kalamazoo area working at Allen Electric, Tarnow Dairy and Kalamazoo Creamery. Following in his father’s footsteps, he became involved in the Unions. During his employment in Kalamazoo he serviced as the Labor Representative on the Kalamazoo Chapter of the American Red Cross for several years, leaving that position when accepting employment at Square Deal (now Cassens Transport) in Detroit as a Diesel Mechanic. He retired from Cassens in 2000 after working there for 29 years, being Union Steward at Teamster’s Local 299 for many of those years. Lester volunteered this time, talents and willingness to help others in need at church, work, community and especially family. He was a member of the NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collector’s, Inc.) joining in 1985 when he got interested in collecting pocket watches. He loved war history and during many of their vacations, visited battlegrounds of the Civil War. He enjoyed traveling, both by car, taking back roads and seeing the unusual sights and learning a little history from the people in those areas, and cruises to the Caribbean and along the Mississippi River. He fulfilled a long time dream of seeing the Panama Canal taking a cruise there upon retirement. He was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother in-law; and uncle. He loved and treated his wife’s parents, Orvil and Mary Anderson like his own parents. Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Wanda Raymer of Gladwin; grandson, Nathan Raymer of Richmond; granddaughter, Crystal Berry (Jordan) of Battle Creek, 3 great granddaughters, Erin Verscheure of Macomb Township, Nevaeh Brown and Shayla Berry of Battle Creek, sisters & brother in-law, Mary Stephenson of Galesburg, Carol Williams of Battle Creek; Wava (David) Thomas of Baldwin, Orvil (Doris) of Kalamazoo and many nieces & nephews. He is preceded in death by his daughter: Carrie Marie, parents, Lester Sr. & Jasprina Raymer, and all of his siblings, sister: Linda (Victor) Mantell; Jackie Davidson; Pauline Cartwright; brothers: William Raymer; Richard Raymer; sister in-law: Inez Raber-Griffith; brother in-law: Dennis Williams. Honoring his wishes, cremation will take place and there will be no services. Arrangements are in the care of Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home, Gladwin, Michigan. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be used according to the wishes of the family. www.hallkokotovichfuneralhome.com