Lester V. Ellerbusch

Lester was born on Dec 20, 1924 in Orchard, Nebraska, the son of Paul and Della (Stoltenberg) Ellerbusch. The family moved to Holstein in 1936. He graduated from Holstein High School in 1942. In 1944 he enlisted in the Navy, and served in the Pacific Fleet in WWII. He achieved rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class and was a radioman on the USS Soubarissen. He was honorably discharged May 6, 1946.

On Nov 30, 1947 Lester was united in marriage to ViLois Nordell at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove. To this union three children were born: Dan, Lynette, and Donald. The couple farmed around the Holstein area their entire life. In 2002 they moved to town in Holstein, where they have resided since.

Lester’s hobby was raising registered Belgian horses, and many activities centered around horse shows and sales, parades, threshing bees and hayrides. In later years, his shipmates formed an annual reunion, and he and Vi traveled to many of those.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Fred Ellerbusch; sister Pauline Drake; and grandson Darren Ellerbusch.

He is survived his by wife, ViLois of Holstein; brother, Raymond (Gloria) Ellerbusch of Holstein; son, Dan of Holstein (friend Anita Strawn from Sioux City); daughter, Lynette (husband Tom) Gilligan of Eagle, NE; and son, Don (wife Kellie) Ellerbusch of Ashland, NE. He is also survived by grandchildren: (Dan’s) Chad (wife Lisa) Ellerbusch of Grimes, IA, Jason (friend Jessica Farenkamp) and Bryan Ellerbusch, all of Minneapolis, MN; (Lynette’s) Hans (wife Angel) Erickson of Port Orchard, WA, and Cara Erickson of Austin, TX; (Don’s) Daschel Ellerbusch of Ashland, NE; and great-grandchildren: (Chad’s) Jarrod and Ashlyn Ellerbusch and (Hans’) Kailey, Roxi, and Ava Erickson.