Lester Erdman

Lester "Lefty" Erdman, age 89, of Janesville, died peacefully on Saturday, October 12, 2013, at the Janesville Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 18, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville, with the Rev. Dr. Larry Griffin and Rev. Paul Muther, officiating. Interment will be held at the Janesville Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory of Janesville on Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the donor's choice in memory of Lefty.

Lester was born December 16, 1923 to Edwin and Frieda (Rux) on the Erdman family farm in Janesville Township, Waseca County. He attended Janesville High School and graduated with the class of 1943. On September 30, 1944, Lefty married Eleanor Abraham at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. They farmed and raised their family on the Erdman family farm southeast of Janesville. He was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served on various boards and also on the Trinity Lutheran School Board for many years. Lefty was very active in the farming community and enjoyed serving on the Janesville Creamery Association board of directors for many years. He also enjoyed playing cards and going to many local sporting events as well as watching the professional Minnesota Sports teams.

He is survived by his sons, Allen (Barbie) Erdman of Janesville and Steve (Evie) Erdman of Elysian; his daughter-in-law, Julie Erdman of Janesville; his nine grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter; his sister-in-law, Lorraine Erdman of Janesville; and by his nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Eleanor in 2004; his son, Richard in 2006; and by his brother, Gilbert Erdman in 2000.