Lester Hicks

LESTER HICKS

Cedar Rapids

On Dec. 22, 2020, Lester Hicks passed away after a lengthy battle against kidney failure. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. To protect family and friends from potential COVID concerns, a service and celebration of his life will be held at a future date.

Lester Raymond Hicks was born on the family farm in Gray, Iowa, on Sept. 10, 1942, the son of Gladys and Howard Hicks and named after his grandfather's and father's middle names. Lester grew up in and around Perry, Iowa, helping out on family and friend's farms.

Truly a renaissance man, Lester was in military intelligence with the U.S. Army Security Agency, serving in several countries overseas and earning a Silver Star Medal. After the Army, Lester excelled in varied occupations from carpentry, farming, truck driving, electronic piano and organ repair, grocery store management and, in 1990, earning, with honors, an Associate's degree from Kirkwood Community College in computer science. He worked as a computer programmer and analyst with the Freedom Group until his retirement. Perhaps his greatest achievements, though, were that of loving husband to Ellen and father to Jenny and Matt.

Other survivors include his siblings, Jim, Shirley, Carolyn, Iola, Bruce and Barry; and sister-in-law, Julie.

He was preceded in death by sisters, Winona and Brenda.

Lester enjoyed telling good jokes (and an occasional bad one), fishing, building wooden model wagons from scratch, and spending time with friends and family. A friend to all, the world lost a bright spot with Lester's passing, but he will forever live on in our hearts!

Please share your support and memories with Lester's family on his tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.