Rev. Lester B. Laur, 96, of Effingham, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2015, at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, June 8, 2015, at Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham, with Dr. Joe Scheets and Rev. Leanne Noland officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Effingham. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the church. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham.
Memorials may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 203 E. Grove Avenue, Effingham, IL 62401. Online condolences may be shared at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com.
Lester was born on September 3, 1918, in Jefferson County, IL. He married Helen Isabelle Crader in 1949, and she preceded him in death on November 6, 2001.
Lester graduated from Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, and attended Asbury Theological Seminary. He ministered faithfully to several Methodist churches in southern Illinois, and after retirement served as a visitation pastor at Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham. After his second retirement, Lester became Pastor Emeritus at Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham. Lester served his church family for more than 50 years. He loved the church, gardening, watching his grandchildren play sports, traveling, jigsaw puzzles, and playing games with his grandchildren, especially, Monopoly.
Lester is survived by his sons, Steve (Jeanne) Laur of Maryville and Darrell (Velma) Laur of Effingham; grandchildren, Jill (JJ) Wright of Altamont, Derek (Maggie) Laur of St. Louis, MO, Matthew (Carrie) Laur of Troy, Lisa (Curtis) Goacher of St. Joseph, MO, Michael (Courtney) Ligotino of Kettering, OH, and Jason (Betsy) Ligotino of Kansas, IL; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandson; and 2 sisters.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and several brothers and sisters.