Wesley "Wes" Lampher

Hastings resident Wesley W. “Wes” Lampher, son of Edwin K. & Lillian (Breyer) Lampher was born May 22, 1936 in Bergen Township, MN on the family farm. He passed away on May 11, 2018, surrounded by his family at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, NE, at the age of 81.

Services are 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, at Faith Lutheran Church 9 ^th and Chestnut in Hastings with Pastor Paul Dunbar officiating. Burial with military rites by Hastings Veterans Organizations will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Hastings. Memorials may be given to Faith Lutheran Church or LCMS St. Louis Seminary Student Scholarship Fund. Visitation is Monday 1-7 p.m. at the funeral home with family present 5-7 p.m., and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Wes was baptized into Christian faith on June 7, 1936 and reaffirmed his faith through confirmation on April 7, 1950. He graduated from Lester Prairie High School in Lester Prairie, MN in 1954. He played Minnesota AAA Baseball in 1954-55. He served in the National Guard in 1955-56 and active in the Army 1957-59 on the European Army-Air Force baseball team. Wes attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN.

Wes married Janice M. Karels, his high school sweetheart on June 22, 1959 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie, MN. To this union three daughters were born.

Wes and family moved to Hastings in 1968 with Schwartz Mfg. and later founded and owned two businesses in Hastings, LCL Truck Equipment and Western Wheels. He was a member of Southern Hills Golf Course, Optimist Club where he served as a Lt. Governor at the State level. He was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church by serving in many offices. Wes loved the outdoors; fishing, hunting and golf. He was a handyman and enjoyed spending time with friends. He loved his family and also loved telling many stories. Wes enjoyed singing hymns, listening to polka and country music. Wes and Jan enjoyed their winters with friends in Texas. Above all, he was a caring and loving husband, father and grandfather.

Wes was preceded in death by his parents, and in-laws Harold & Deloris Karels.

Those left to cherish his memories:
Wife:
Janice Lampher – Hastings, NE
Daughters & Sons-in-law:
Julie K. & Paul Folkerts – Carleton, NE
Lori M. & Dave Nelson – Omaha, NE
Nancy L. & Russell Craft – Biloxi, MS
Sisters:
Aurelia Strei – Lester Prairie, MN
Mildred Dibb – Minneapolis, MN
Grandchildren & Spouses:
Brad & Noel Richardson – Hastings, NE
Emily & Alex Paczkowski – Hastings, NE
Jeff & Halley Richardson – Omaha, NE
Paxton Folkerts – Bruning, NE
Chandler Folkerts – Lincoln, NE
Derek Nelson – Omaha, NE
Hannah Nelson – Omaha, NE
Haleigh Nelson – Omaha, NE
Dillon Nelson – Omaha, NE
Dalton Nelson – Omaha, NE
Spencer Turkington & fiancée Shelby Ring – Nashville, TN
Hayden Turkington – Knoxville, TN
Hudson Jones – Nashville, TN
Great-Grandchildren:
Brayson Richardson – Hastings, NE
Hudson Richardson – Hastings, NE
Harper Richardson – Hastings, NE
Tenley Paczkowski – Hastings, NE
Blakely Paczkowski – Hastings, NE
Brothers-in-law & Sisters-in-law:
Joyce & Larry Burandt – Lester Prairie, MN
David H. & Kim Karels – Waverly, MN