Lester Shelkey

One of the things that Lester Shelkey was most known for was his strong work ethic. When this was coupled with his drive to succeed, it led to a prosperous career that eventually grew into a business that is still in existence today. The driving force behind Lesters hard work wasnt the pursuit of great wealth, but it was the desire to provide for his family while still having enough to give away as well. He was kind and giving in every way and a well-known part of his community. Lester cherished the family he established with the love of his life and it will be the fun times they shared as a family that will be so dearly missed. Although he struggled with health issues for a number of years, Lester took each moment captive and lived it to the fullest. The year 1938 was part of a decade that was cloaked in hardship due to the Great Depression, but it was also the year in which a minimum wage was implemented, the March of Dimes was established, and the Baseball Hall of Fame opened in Cooperstown, New York. This was a year of exciting changes in the family of David Pete and Harriet (Weyerbacher) Shelkey with the birth of their son, Lester Joseph, on June 17th. Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Lester was one of nine children in his family including brothers Clyde and Ronald and sisters Marion, Susie, Gloria, Nancy, Doris, and Darlene. Lester was raised in the family home on Warden Street on the east side of the city. Life was not easy in the Shelkey family as theirs was a house with dirt floors and because it was small, the children were required to share beds. Lesters father worked for a coal company while his mother had more than enough to keep her busy at home. Lester enjoyed playing baseball and roller skating as a young boy and attended Phillips Elementary. It was there that he met a fellow classmate who captured his attention. Her name was Joyce Gowen and he made quite the impression on her when they met because they were playing marbles and Lester was cheating! In junior high, Joyce was Lesters buddys girl, but the two boys decided they preferred each others girlfriend so they traded. Lester and Joyce have been together ever since. Since life continued to be a struggle in Lesters family, he quit school after the eighth grade so that he could work in order to help provide for the family. He worked in the celery fields, worked as a pin setter at a bowling alley, and was a mechanic at a gas station among other job as well. Lester worked hard in order to pay the room and board that was required of him to help make ends meet. Because the relationship between Lester and Joyce grew into a deep love for one another, they were united in marriage on October 28, 1961, shortly after she graduated from high school. They settled in the Cloverville area where they welcomed daughter Terri in 1965 and daughter Tracy in 1967. In order to support his family, Lester found work at Farr View Dairy where he initially worked as a milkman. He later took ove r their ice cream division and remained there for 20 years before he became the owner of Mills Ice Cream Distributing Company. Lester ran that company with his son-in-law Bob and daughter Tracy for over 30 years before retiring. This business is still operated by his son-in-law Bob and daughter Tracy today. Although work certainly occupied much of Lesters time, he made sure there was plenty of time for other things, too. He and Joyce were very good friends with Lee and Shirley Thurston. The two couples and their families spent many fun-filled times together on holidays, taking trips to Cedar Point, and even going on vacation together. When their children were grown, the four of them continued to travel together including memorable trips to Branson, Las Vegas, and Chicago. They also rented various houses in Florida together for a month during the winter. During his younger years, Lester was quite the bowler and belonged to the Greater Muskegon Bowling Association. He was also an avid sports fan who loved watching football and attending hockey games at the arena and especially his grandson Bobbys football baseball games and grandson Zachary basketball games.. Lester was well-known within his community because he was such an active part of it. He was a member of AMBUCS, the Fruitport Eagles, and the Fraternal Order of Police. Lester was very generous with both his time and money and was a loyal sponsor of many events. For 17 years his ice cream company with the help of his son-in-law Bob sponsored a charity bowling tournament called Sundae Singles where Lester loved being the announcer. Since he was short and round in stature, Lester was the perfect Santa Claus. He loved dressing up and spreading holiday cheer to the Hume Home, the Fruitport Fire Barn, and for the Fruitport Eagles among other places. For years he played cribbage every week with his buddy, Jim Tregoning, and he had a regular crowd of breakfast buddies whom he met at Ninos or Whitlows Forerunner Restaurant to solve all the worlds problems, no doubt. Lester fixed CB radios and was a regular voice on the airwaves whose handle was Popsicle. For several years, Lester struggled with diabetes. Joyce was a wonderful caretaker during this time and was there for whatever he needed. He eventually needed oxygen and a scooter to get around, but these things never slowed Lester down much. He and Joyce still made their annual trips with Lee and Shirley. Then just one month ago, his health began steadily declining and eventually, his body started failing. In so many ways, Lester Shelkey was a gift to the world around him whether it was through his generous gifts, his fun-loving spirit, or his compassion for others. He was a dedicated family man with a good sense of humor that was often contagious to those around him. Lester lived a long and fulfilling life loving those he held most dear. He will be deeply missed and warmly remembered. Lester J. Shelkey died on Monday, July 26, 2010. Lesters family includes his wife, Joyce; daughters, Terri Shelkey Strait of N. Muskegon, Tracy (Bob) DeCheney of N. Muskegon; grandchildren, Bobby DeCheney III of N. Muskegon, Zachary Strait of N. Muskegon, Dawn (Dale Bennett) Dewitt of Twin Lake, Donny Strait II of FL; great- granddaughters, Sierra & Shaylee Bennett; brothers, Clyde (Mae) Shelkey of Grand Rapids, Ron (Donna) Shelkey of Muskegon; sisters, Doris (Chuck) Johnston of CA, Gloria (Eugene) Crain Sr. of Muskegon, Susan (Bob) Smith of Muskegon, Nancy (Russ) Schneider of Whitehall; special friends, Lee & Shirley Thurston. Lester was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Brooke DeCheney in 1999 and sisters, Darlene Pickering and Marion Bentley. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 29, 2010, 2:00 p.m. at the Clock Life Story Funeral Homes Muskegon location Muskegon, MI with visitation before the service starting at 12:30 p.m. and Rev. Mike Schultz officiating. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to the American Cancer Society or Shelkey Grandchildren Education Fund.