Lester Amelunke

Lester Gene Amelunke, 82, of Jackson passed away Friday, July 30, 2021, at Jackson Manor, with family by his side.

He was born July 8, 1939, in Jackson, son of Edwin and Esther Sievers Amelunke. He and Doris Schneider were married Sept. 27,1958, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

Lester was a lifetime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church; he was baptized, confirmed and united in marriage at St. Paul. In addition, he attended St. Paul Lutheran School, was a member of the St. Paul's Men's Club and made sure coffee was ready before Sunday Bible study class started for several years.

He attended Jackson High School. It was in high school that he met the love of his life, Doris. He enlisted in the National Guard, where he proudly served from 1957 to 1962.

Lester was no stranger to work. He was raised on the family farm west of Jackson, where he learned about hard work. He continued to help his father on the family farm part-time with working the ground for planting, baling hay and raising cattle, all while working full-time at Strickert's Standard Service Station, raising a family and teaching his children the benefits and integrity of hard work. It was not unusual for Lester, Doris and the kids to work in the evenings or weekends trimming trees or mowing grass; it was a "Team Amelunke" job done well. Beverly shared that there was not any watching cartoons on Saturday mornings at their house, because there was work to be done.

In 2004, Lester deservingly retired after 46 years of service from Strickert's Standard Service Station in Jackson. He and Doris enjoyed their time together on the farm with their family mostly close by until his health began to fail him.

Loving survivors include his wife of 62 years; to their union eight children were born, six daughters, Mary (Mike) Beeson, Beth (Larry) Baker, Beverly (Chuck) Schweain, Charlene (Johnnie) James, Charlotte Amelunke, all of Jackson, and Carol (Randy) Kaiser, of Jefferson City, Missouri; two sons, Larry Amelunke of Patoka, Indiana, and Richard Amelunke of Jackson; 22 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Rachel (Michael) Divincenzo of Desoto, Missouri, and Debra McDonald of Millersville; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a child, a grandchild, a great-grandchild, two sisters and a brother.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

Funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at the church, with the Rev. Jason Shaw officiating. Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Paul Lutheran Church and School or to St. Paul Lutheran Radio Broadcast.

An invitation is extended to family and friends to attend the service to celebrate and honor Lester. However, the family has requested that everyone wear a mask, and practice social distancing and refrain from hugging or handshaking for the safety of all in attendance.

Lester had been a resident of Jackson Manor since 2017. His family is grateful and would like to give a special thank you to all the doctors, nurses and technicians at Jackson Manor and Southeast Hospice who provided such diligent and kind care to him; along with those who came to visit, called or made window visits. Special thanks to the pastors who called on him, especially Pastor Eric Longman for the wedding renewal vows with his family present. Thank you to all who gave him gospel T-shirts to spread God's word.

To send an online condolence to the family, visit McCombs Funeral Home website at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com; then click on the tribute wall tab of Lester's personal obituary.

Traditional gifts, cards and contributions may be sent to the family at McCombs Funeral Home, Inc. c/o Lester Amelunke, 640 West Independence Street, Jackson, Mo 63755.