Frederick Lestina

Fred Lestina "Lefty"

Age 87 of Wilmington , passed away Monday April 7, 2008 at Silver Cross Medical Center in Joliet .

Born May 12, 1920 in Braidwood, Lefty was a son of the late John and Bessie Kral-Lestina. He was a graduate of Braidwood High School (1938) and worked at the Joliet Arsenal. On April 4, 1948 Lefty married Laura Larsen in the First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington and together they farmed and raised Hereford Cattle in the Wilmington Area. Lefty's other employment included working for Mule-Hide Roofing in the Chemical Laboratory during the day and owning and operating Lestina Busing, which provided transportation for the Wilmington School System. Lefty also delivered oil products for Sinclair Oil Co. throughout the Wilmington area and being a very energetic man also worked for Peabody Coal Company in Braidwood, as a pumper, as well as raised his family with his beloved wife Laura. He was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church of Wilmington, member of the Thresherman's Club and the United Coal Workers. Lefty loved polka music and early on played in a band in Braidwood.

Survivors include his loving wife of 60 years: Laura; two sons: Fred (Irene) Lestina of Morris and Gary (Sherri) Lestina of Joliet; two daughters: Loralyn (Dennis) Wilhelmi of Joliet and Lisa Lestina of Wilmington; one brother George (the late Joyce) Lestina and one sister Bessie (the late Phil) DiGiusto, both of Braidwood; five grandchildren: Jacob (Tina) and Jason Lestina and Melissa, Matthew and Christopher Wilhelmi; two great grandchildren: Anna and Samuel Lestina and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lefty was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: John, Joe and Frank and two sisters: Agnes Novy and Eleanor Fleishman.

Visitation and Video Tribute will be held on Thursday April 10, 2008 between the hours of 2:00PM and 8:00PM and Friday April 11th from 9:00AM until time of funeral service 10:30AM at the First United Methodist of Wilmington, 401 E. Kahler Road in Wilmington. Rev. David Lagos-Fonseca and Rev. Shirley Pulgar-Hughes will officiate the services and burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Wilmington .

Preferred memorials in lieu of flowers may be made as gifts in Lefty's memory to the First United Methodist Church, 401 East Kahler Road, Wilmington, Illinois 60481 .

Friends may sign the online guest book by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements are under the direction of Reeves Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815/476-7621)